Isolation of Group A Streptococci with Reduced β-Lactam Susceptibility Harboring Amino Acid Substitutions in Penicillin-Binding Proteins in Japan.

Streptococcus pyogenes (group A Streptococcus [GAS]) has long been regarded as being susceptible to β-lactams. However, amino acid substitutions in penicillin-binding protein 2X (PBP2X) conferring reduced β-lactam susceptibility have been indicated since 2019 in the United States and Iceland. Here, we report the first isolation of Streptococcus pyogenes possessing the PBP2X substitution conferring reduced β-lactam susceptibility in Asia; however, the MICs were below the susceptible breakpoint of the CLSI.