Characterization of major clones of antibiotic-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae in New Zealand by multilocus sequence typing

Objectives: To determine the relationship between New Zealand isolates of antibiotic-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae and internationally widespread resistant clones. Methods: Fifty-nine isolates representing both invasive and non-invasive pneumococci from multiple locations, serotypes and years were analysed by multilocus sequence typing. Results: Major international clones, including Spain(23F)-1, France(9V)-3 and Taiwan(19F)-14, were found to be present in New Zealand. A one-allele variant of the Taiwan(19F)-14 clone (aroE 15-->4, ST 271) was particularly prominent. Conclusions: Antibiotic-resistant pneumococci have not evolved de novo in New Zealand, but were introduced to the country during the early 1990s.