Emergence in Italy of a Neisseria meningitidis clone with decreased susceptibility to penicillin

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2004 Aug;48(8):3103-6. doi: 10.1128/AAC.48.8.3103-3106.2004.

Abstract

A rise in invasive diseases due to Neisseria meningitidis C:2b:P1.5 with decreased penicillin susceptibility occurred in Italy during the last 2 years. Real-time PCR identified the Peni phenotype, and the penA sequence revealed the mosaicism of the gene. Molecular analyses assigned the isolates to a single emergent clone of the hypervirulent A4 cluster.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • DNA Fingerprinting
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field
  • Humans
  • Italy / epidemiology
  • Meningitis, Meningococcal / epidemiology
  • Meningitis, Meningococcal / microbiology*
  • Mosaicism / genetics
  • Neisseria meningitidis / drug effects*
  • Neisseria meningitidis / genetics*
  • Penicillin Resistance / genetics*
  • Phenotype
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

Substances

  • DNA, Bacterial