Detection of pbp2b Gene and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Pattern of Streptococcus Pneumoniae Isolates in Tehran Hospitals, Iran

Streptococcus pneumoniae is the major cause associated with otitis, sinusitis, bronchitis, and pneumonia, as well as an outstanding cause of meningitis, bacteremia, and many other infections. Throughout the world, an increase in antibiotic resistance S.pneumoniae has become a serious problem in the recent years in many different countries. Penicillin resistance in S. pneumoniae cause of altered on the penicillin target position, the penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs).
In the present study, we describe the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern and identification of the pbp2b gene of S. pneumoniae isolates at specimens of several general hospitals in Tehran, the capital of Iran.
A total of 73 S. pneumoniae were obtained from various clinical specimens from hospitals in Tehran from September 2012 to July 2015. Antibiotic susceptibility of isolates was determined by the broth microdilution method. The genes pbp2b in penicillin-resistant streptococcus pneumoniae (PRSP) were detected using polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
In total, 73 isolates were collected and diagnosed as S. pneumoniae. Isolates were susceptible to ofloxacin 95.9%, vancomycin 93%, penicillin 78%, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole 61.6%, ceftriaxone 53.5%, meropenem 52%, cefotaxime 46.5%, and erythromycin 8.2%. Of the 15 PRSP isolates, the pbp2b gene was identified in 12 (80%). In 1 penicillin-intermediate S. pneumoniae isolate the pbp2b was detected.
These results in comparison with same studies in other parts of the world showed us an increase in resistant S. pneumoniae isolates to conventional drugs in the treatment of the acute infections caused by this bacteria. In the present study, PRSP possess the pbp2b gene were the most frequently found, which means they have a high level of resistance of S. pneumoniae. For decreasing the mortality and morbidity of patients, it is suggested to determine the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of the isolates in each hospital for doing necessary medical interventions.