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Possible misinterpretation of penicillin susceptibility in Staphylococcus aureus blood isolate due to in vitro loss of the blaZ gene

Helle Brander Eriksen, Andreas Petersen, Michael Pedersen, Søren Overballe-Petersen, Anders Rhod Larsen, Barbara Juliane Holzknecht

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We describe a case of recurrent catheter-related blood stream infections (BSI) with Staphylococcus aureus, in which the first isolate tested susceptible to penicillin, while subsequent isolates were resistant. Phenotypic susceptibility correlated with the absence/presence of the blaZ gene. The in vitro stability of penicillin resistance was investigated by subculturing single colonies. In two out of five colonies, phenotypical resistance was lost after a single subculture, which correlated with loss of the blaZ gene. This in vitro phenomenon probably resulted in a very major error in the microbiology report of the first BSI, where penicillin had been recommended as treatment.

Original languageEnglish
JournalEuropean journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology
Volume41
Issue number1
Pages (from-to)163-167
Number of pages5
ISSN0934-9723
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2022

Keywords

  • blaZ
  • In vitro susceptibility testing
  • PSSA PRSA
  • Staphylococcus aureus
  • Blood/microbiology
  • Catheter-Related Infections/drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology
  • Staphylococcal Infections/drug therapy
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Bacterial Proteins/genetics
  • Penicillin Resistance
  • Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects
  • Penicillins/pharmacology
  • Bacteremia/drug therapy
  • beta-Lactamases/genetics

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