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Mycoplasma pneumoniae: susceptibility and resistance to antibiotics

Cécile Bébéar1, Sabine Pereyre, Olivia Peuchant

  • 1INRA, USC Mycoplasmal & Chlamydial Infections in Humans, Université Bordeaux Segalen, Bordeaux, France. cecile.bebear@u-bordeaux2.fr

Future Microbiology
|April 30, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Mycoplasma pneumoniae causes respiratory infections and is often treated with macrolides. However, acquired resistance to these antibiotics is increasing globally, driven by specific genetic mutations.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Antimicrobial Resistance

Background:

  • Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a common cause of human respiratory tract infections worldwide.
  • It lacks a cell wall, conferring intrinsic resistance to beta-lactams and cell wall-targeting agents.
  • Current treatment guidelines recommend macrolides, tetracyclines, and fluoroquinolones.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the antibiotic susceptibility profile of Mycoplasma pneumoniae.
  • To investigate the emergence and spread of acquired antibiotic resistance.
  • To highlight the clinical implications of macrolide resistance.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of Mycoplasma pneumoniae antibiotic resistance studies.
  • Analysis of susceptibility data and resistance mechanisms.
  • Discussion of diagnostic methods for resistance detection.

Main Results:

  • Mycoplasma pneumoniae exhibits susceptibility to macrolides, tetracyclines, and fluoroquinolones.
  • Acquired resistance to macrolides is a growing global concern, particularly in Asia.
  • High rates of erythromycin and azithromycin resistance (>90%) are reported in Chinese isolates.
  • Resistance is primarily associated with mutations in the 23S rRNA gene.
  • Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can detect these resistance mutations directly from respiratory samples.

Conclusions:

  • Macrolides remain a first-line treatment, but rising resistance necessitates monitoring.
  • Acquired macrolide resistance in Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a significant public health issue.
  • Genetic detection of 23S rRNA mutations aids in managing infections with resistant strains.

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