Detection of gyrA Mutations among 335 Pseudomonas aeruginosa Strains Isolated in Japan and Their Susceptibilities to Fluoroquinolones

gyrA point mutations in 335 clinical Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates were examined mainly by nonisotopic single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis and direct sequencing. Seven types of missense gyrA mutations were observed in 70 of 335 strains (20.9%), and ciprofloxacin MICs were > or = 3.13 micrograms/ml for 63 of 70 strains (90.0%). These included two double point mutations and three novel mutations (Ala-67-->Ser plus Asp-87-->Gly, Ala-84-->Pro, and Gln-106-->Leu). Thr-83-->Ile mutants were predominantly observed (63 of 70 mutants) and showed high-level fluoroquinolone resistance (ciprofloxacin MIC at which 50% of isolates are inhibited, 25 micrograms/ml).