Antibiotic-resistant Strep A strains may be close to developing
Streptococcus pyogenes (Strep A) strains with decreased beta-lactam susceptibility are reported by a collaborating study group from institutes across seven countries.
Data suggests that the geographically widespread mutated strains have been exposed to antibiotics during treatment of Strep A, or possibly during treatment of an asymptomatic Strep A carrier for an infection caused by another microbe.
“We can no longer be lulled into believing that no A Streptococcus strain will become resistant to these important and widely-used antibiotics”2 says Professor Jaana Vuopio, one of the participating scientists.
The research group highlights the importance of monitoring antimicrobial susceptibility of Strep A although none of the mutations resulted in resistance in vitro to any of the tested antibiotics.
Sources:
1.Reduced in vitro susceptibility of Streptococcus pyogenes to beta-lactam antibiotics associated with mutations in the pbp2x gene is geographically widespread. J. Clin. Microbiol. Online Jan 29, 2020 DOI: 10.1128/JCM.01993-19
2.Press release 30.01.2020 University of Turku www.utu.fi/en/news/press-release/antibiotic-resistant-strep-throat-may-be-close
