Distribution and Genetic Location of Tn7 in Trimethoprim-Resistant Escherichia Coli

University Department of Bacteriology, Royal Infirmary, Castle Street, Glasgow G4 0SF * Correspondence should be sent to Dr D. J. Platt. Received March 28, 1985 Accepted February 10, 1986 A series of 178 strains of Escherichia coli , highly resistant to trimethoprim, isolated from hospital patients and patients in the community between 1979 and 1983, was examined for the presence of Tn7 on a plasmid or on the chromosome only, by transposition to RP4 and restriction endonuclease digestion with Hin d III. Of the isolates, 57% carried Tn7. Comparison of hospital isolates from 1979 to 1980 and 1982 showed that although the proportions that carried Tn7 were similar (63% and 57%) there had been a significant change in the genetic location of the transposon. The proportion of plasmid-mediated Tn7 had fallen from 62% to 30% with a corresponding rise in Tn7 located exclusively on the chromosome from 38% to 70%. This change may be the result of continuing transposition of Tn7 from plasmids to the bacterial chromosome followed by plasmid loss. The consequent reduction in the mobility of trimethoprim-resistance genes may in turn lead to changes in the incidence of resistance.