The association of serotype and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis genotype in isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated in Israel

Abstract

The relationship between Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates causing invasive infections in children admitted to a single center in central Israel was examined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and serotyping. Although there was a close correlation between serotype and PFGE clone, the genetic diversity varied by serotype, with some genotypes comprising multiple serotypes. Additionally, clones C and D were associated with higher penicillin minimum inhibitory concentrations. Serotyping alone may be insufficient for epidemiological mapping of pneumococcal isolates in the era of pneumococcal conjugate polysaccharide vaccines.

Keywords

• S.pneumoniae
• Pulsed-field
• Gel
• Electrophoresis
• Genotype
• Serotype