Aminoglycoside-Inactivating Enzymes in Clinical Isolates of Streptococcus Faecalis: AN EXPLANATION FOR RESISTANCE TO ANTIBIOTIC SYNERGISM

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Abstract

Clinical isolates of enterococci (Streptococcus faecalis) with high-level resistance to both streptomycin and kanamycin (minimal inhibitory concentration >2,000 μg/ml), and resistant to synergism with penicillin and streptomycin or kanamycin were examined for aminoglycoside-inactivating enzymes. All of the 10 strains studied had streptomycin adenylyltransferase and neomycin phosphotransferase activities; the latter enzyme phosphorylated amikacin as well as its normal substrates, such as kanamycin. Substrate profiles of the neomycin phosphotransferase activity suggested that phosphorylation occurred at the 3′-hydroxyl position, i.e., aminoglycoside 3′-phosphotransferase. A transconjugant strain, which acquired high-level aminoglycoside resistance and resistance to antibiotic synergism after mating with a resistant clinical isolate, also acquired both enzyme activities. Quantitative phosphorylation of amikacin in vitro by a sonicate of the transconjugant strain inactivated the antibiotic, as measured by bioassay, and the phosphorylated drug failed to produce synergism when combined with penicillin against a strain sensitive to penicillin-amikacin synergism.

Authors

Donald J. Krogstad, Thomas R. Korfhagen, Robert C. Moellering Jr., Christine Wennersten, Morton N. Swartz