RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of genes encoding 16S rRNA methylase and the spreading path of these genes in 374 clinical isolate of enterobacteriaceae. METHODS: The genes encoding 16S rRNA methylase in 374 clinical isolate of enterobacteriaceae was detected with PCR. The sequence homogeny analyses were carried out with the NCBL BLAST program and enterbacterial repetitive intergenic consensus PCR (ERIC-PCR). The conjugation experiments were used to determine the transference of 16S rRNA methylase in vitro. RESULTS: In 374 clinical isolates, methylase genes were detected in 24 strains (6.41%), including 10 armA gene positive strains and 10 rmtB gene positive strains, and 4 strains with both genes positive. Highly homogenous strains were confirmed by ERIC-PCR. 45.8% (11/24) of the conjunction experiments for these strains were positive. CONCLUSION: The aminoglycoside resistance in enterobacteriaceae was concerned related to 16S rRNA methylase. The 16S rRNA methylase transferred either by clone or by plasmids horizontal spreading.