Plasmid-mediated fluoroquinolone efflux pump gene, qepA, in Escherichia coli clinical isolates in Korea

The qepA gene was detected in 4 (0.6%) of 621 nonduplicate Escherichia coli clinical isolates collected from blood cultures in Korea. Three of the 4 qepA-positive isolates contained blaCTX-M-14 and/or blaTEM-1 genes, but not the E8700 isolate. The qepA gene was successfully transferred and conferred resistance to hydrophilic quinolones, such as norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin, in the recipient. The gene was located in part of IS26. Two isolates were linked to the truncated rmtB gene.