Macrolide resistant clinical isolates of Streptococcus pyogenes and Streptococcus pneumoniae in Norway: Prevalence, phenotypes, genotypes and molecular epidemiology

Project leader(s)   Pia Littauer and Arnfinn Sundsfjord

Co-workers / Project staff
Kristin H Dahl, Maria Sangvik, Bjørg Haldorsen, and Gunnar S Simonsen

Main Objects:
We have limited knowledge regarding the prevalence and molecular epidemiology of macrolide resistant clinical isolates of S. pyogenes and S. pneumoniae in Norway. The main objectives are to: (i) Examine the prevalence of macrolide resistance in clinical S. pyogenes- and S. pneumoniae-isolates in Norway. (ii) Characterize Norwegian macrolide resistant S. pyogenes- and S. pneumoniae-isolates with regard to resistance phenotype and genotype as well as serotype and multilocus sequence typing (MLST). (iii) Isolate and characterize macrolide resistant viridans group streptococci in adult people before, during and after antimicrobial therapy.

Collaborators / Partners
Dominique Caugant and Arne Høiby, National Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.

Funding
University Hospital of North-Norway (UNN), Tromsø

Publications
1. Littauer P, Sangvik M, Sandnes RA, Kristiansen BE, Vorland L, Sundsfjord A. Detection and characterization of macrolide resistence determinants in Norwegian clinical isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus pyogenes. Abstract SSAC, Odense 2003.
2. Littauer P, Sangvik M, Haldorsen B, Dahl KH, Caugant D, Høiby A, Simonsen GS, Sundsfjord A. Prevalence, phenotypes, genotypes and molecular epidemiology of macrolide resistant clinical isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae in Norway 2001-2002. Abstract and oral presentation 14th ECCMID, Praha 2004.