Emergence in France of Multiple Clones of Clinical <i>Streptococcus pneumoniae</i> Isolates with High-Level Resistance to Amoxicillin

Abstract

The genetic relatedness of French isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae highly resistant to amoxicillin (MIC, >/=4 microg/ml, equal to or exceeding those of penicillin) was investigated by molecular fingerprinting. The results suggest that high-level resistance to amoxicillin has emerged within preexisting penicillin-resistant clones.