Penicillin and Cefotaxime Resistance of Quinolone-Resistant Neisseria meningitidis Clonal Complex 4821, Shanghai, China, 1965-2020

Abstract

Clonal complex 4821 (CC4821) Neisseria meningitidis, usually resistant to quinolones but susceptible to penicillin and third-generation cephalosporins, is increasing worldwide. To characterize the penicillin-nonsusceptible (Pen^NS) meningococci, we analyzed 491 meningococci and 724 commensal Neisseria isolates in Shanghai, China, during 1965-2020. The Pen^NS proportion increased from 0.3% in 1965-1985 to 7.0% in 2005-2014 and to 33.3% in 2015-2020. Of the 26 Pen^NS meningococci, 11 (42.3%) belonged to the CC4821 cluster; all possessed mutations in penicillin-binding protein 2, mostly from commensal Neisseria. Genetic analyses and transformation identified potential donors of 6 penA alleles. Three Pen^NS meningococci were resistant to cefotaxime, 2 within the CC4821 cluster. With 96% of the Pen^NS meningococci beyond the coverage of scheduled vaccination and the cefotaxime-resistant isolates all from toddlers, quinolone-resistant CC4821 has acquired penicillin and cefotaxime resistance closely related to the internationally disseminated ceftriaxone-resistant gonococcal FC428 clone, posing a greater threat especially to young children.

Keywords: CC4821; China; Neisseria meningitidis; Shanghai; antimicrobial resistance; bacteria; clonal complex 4821; horizontal gene transfer; multidrug resistance; penicillin; third-generation cephalosporins.