Frequency of Mutations in Quinolone Resistance-Determining Regions and Plasmid-Mediated Quinolone Resistance in Shigella Isolates Recovered from Pediatric Patients in Tehran, Iran: An Overlooked Problem

Fluoroquinolone (FQ) resistance in clinical isolates of Shigella species has been increasing reported in recent years. This study was carried out to find the mutations within the quinolone resistance-determining regions (QRDRs) and the prevalence of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) determinants among the clinical isolates of Shigella sp. in Tehran, Iran. A total of 50 Shigella isolates were collected from five teaching therapeutic centers in Tehran, Iran and analyzed for antibiotic susceptibility over a period of 20 months from July 2015 to January 2017. The PCR and direct nucleotide sequencing were used for genetic alterations in the QRDRs. The PMQR genes were detected using PCR. The results revealed four types of mutations in the QRDR of gyrA : 20 (40%) had a S83L mutation, 1 (2%) had a S83A mutation, 2 (4%) had a D87G mutation, and 1 (2%) isolate had a D87Y mutation. Mutations were also found at codon N57D, D200N, and E210K in three isolates. Seven hospitalized children had qnrS determinants, and one isolates had the mutation S83A, while two isolates had double mutations at S83L and/or D87G (Ser83Leu and Asp-87Gly). The PMQR gene-positive isolates had the single replacement of serine with leucine. In hospitalized children, two isolates had two types of PMQR determinants ( qnrS and qnrA ) and ( qnrS and qnrB ) at once. The results of this study indicate that the emergence of strains with mutations in the QRDR regions and the capture of PMQR determinants in strains may lead to failure in therapy with FQ and the widespread emergence of strains with high-level FQ resistance.