Characterization of major clones of antibiotic-resitant Streptococcus pneumoniae in New Zealand by multilocus sequence typing

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the relationship between New Zealand isolates of antibiotic-resistant Streptoccoccus pneumoniae and internationally widespread resistant clones. Methods: Fifty-nine isolates representing both invasive and non-invasive pneumococci from multiple locations, serotypes and years were analysed by multilocus sequence typing. Results: Major international clones, including Spain23F-1, France9V-3 and Taiwan19F-14, were found to be present in New Zealand. A one-allele variant of the Taiwan19F-14 clone (aroE 15 → 4, ST 271) was particularly prominent. Conclusions: Antibiotic-resistant pneumococci have not evolved de novo in New Zealand, but were introduced to the country during the early 1990s. © The British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 2005; all rights reserved.