The First Report of Macrolide-Resistant Bordetella pertussis Isolation in Japan

Jpn J Infect Dis. 2020 Sep 24;73(5):361-362. doi: 10.7883/yoken.JJID.2019.421. Epub 2020 Apr 30.

Abstract

We report the first detection of a macrolide-resistant Bordetella pertussis strain in Japan. The isolate was highly resistant to the macrolides (minimum inhibitory concentrations for erythromycin and clarithromycin: > 256 µg/ml, for azithromycin: 32 µg/ml) and A2047G mutation was identified in the 23S rRNA. The Multilocus Sequence Typing and Multilocus Variable Number of Tandem Repeat Analysis genotypes of this isolate were MT195 and ptxP1/ptxA1/prn1/fim3A/fhaB3, respectively, suggesting a relationship with the macrolide-resistant B. pertussis lineage currently found in China. This raises the possibility that macrolide-resistant B. pertussis has already fully spread in Japan. For a better control of B. pertussis infections, the surveillance for macrolide-resistant B. pertussis is essential in not only Japan, but also other Asian countries.

Keywords: Bordetella pertussis; Japan; macrolide resistance.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Azithromycin / administration & dosage
  • Bordetella pertussis / drug effects*
  • Bordetella pertussis / genetics*
  • Clarithromycin / administration & dosage
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial / genetics*
  • Erythromycin / administration & dosage
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Japan
  • Macrolides / administration & dosage*
  • Male
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Multilocus Sequence Typing
  • Mutation
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 23S / genetics
  • Whooping Cough / drug therapy
  • Whooping Cough / microbiology*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Macrolides
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 23S
  • Erythromycin
  • Azithromycin
  • Clarithromycin