European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology
Volume 137, Issue 1 , Pages 17-20, March 2008

Low rate of carriage of macrolide-resistant group B streptococci in pregnant women in The Netherlands

  • Anouk E. Muller

      Affiliations

    • Medical Centre Haaglanden (MCH), Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lijnbaan 32, 2512 VA The Hague, The Netherlands
    • Both authors contributed equally to the design and execution of the current study.
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Present Address: Medical Centre Haaglanden, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, P.O. Box 432, 2501 CK The Hague, The Netherlands. Tel.: +31 70 3302066; fax: +31 70 3889964.
    • ,
  • Arijaan W. Valkenburg-van den Berg

      Affiliations

    • Medical Centre Haaglanden (MCH), Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lijnbaan 32, 2512 VA The Hague, The Netherlands
    • Both authors contributed equally to the design and execution of the current study.
    • ,
  • Deborah Kreft

      Affiliations

    • Erasmus MC, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
    • ,
  • Paul M. Oostvogel

      Affiliations

    • Medical Centre Haaglanden (MCH), Department of Medical Microbiology, Lijnbaan 32, 2512 VA The Hague, The Netherlands
    • ,
  • Arwen J. Sprij

      Affiliations

    • Foundation Collaborating Hospitals Juliana Children's Hospital, Sportlaan 600, 2566 MJ The Hague, The Netherlands
    • ,
  • Alex van Belkum

      Affiliations

    • Erasmus MC, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Dr. Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Received 23 November 2006; received in revised form 16 February 2007; accepted 3 April 2007. published online 28 April 2007.

Abstract 

Objectives

To describe prevalence of phenotypic and genotypic macrolide-resistance among GBS isolates in pregnant women and explore the possibility of clonal spread of resistant GBS isolates in a multicultural population.

Study design

Antimicrobial resistance patterns of 107 GBS isolates obtained from asymptomatic pregnant women were determined using E-tests. Macrolide resistance genes mef(A), erm(TR) and erm(B) were determined with PCR and a subset of 39 isolates, including the 8 isolates harbouring macrolide resistance genes, was subjected to RAPD analysis to detect clonal spreading.

Results

Resistance to erythromycin and clindamycin was found in 8% and 7%, respectively. Macrolide resistance genes mef(A), erm(TR) and erm(B) were found in 1, 2 and 5 isolates, respectively; only five of these eight isolates exhibited both genotypic as well as phenotypic resistance. One genotype occured in 36% of the subset.

Conclusions

Earlier reports on prevalence of phenotypic resistance were confirmed. Among the susceptible isolates one clonal type of GBS was clearly predominant; one of the resistant isolates shared its genotype. When such clonal types acquire resistance traits in the future, GBS disease may become harder to control.

Keywords: Group B streptococcus, Phenotypic and genotypic resistance, Clonal spread

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PII: S0301-2115(07)00180-7

doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2007.04.001

European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology
Volume 137, Issue 1 , Pages 17-20, March 2008

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