ANTI MICROBIAL AGENTS Penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae in Germany: genetic relationship to clones from other European countries

Summary. Penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae strains isolated in different parts of Germany between 1982 and 1992 were compared with penicillin-resistant isolates, mainly of serogroups 6, 9, 14, 19 and 23, from other European countries. The main clones were recognised by their serotypes, antibiotic resistance patterns and penicillin-binding protein properties, and this typing was confirmed by multi-locus enzyme electrophoresis for a sample of 43 selected isolates. Eleven of the 14 resistant German isolates could be assigned to five genotypes isolated also in other countries. These included representatives of two distinct serotype 23F lineages predominant in Spain and France; a cluster of three serotype 6