Multi-year prevalence and macrolide resistance of Mycoplasma genitalium in clinical samples from a southern Italian hospital

Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2021 Apr;40(4):893-895. doi: 10.1007/s10096-020-04068-3. Epub 2020 Oct 20.

Abstract

The use of azithromycin for the treatment of Mycoplasma genitalium infections has led to resistance to macrolides. From July 2014 to July 2020, 7150 samples were analysed for the detection of sexually transmitted infections at the Policlinico of Bari. A total of 67/7150 samples (0.93%) were positive for MG DNA and 47 samples were analysed for the evaluation of six azithromycin resistance-associated mutations. In 5/47 samples, the A2058G mutation was detected (10.63%). Although the cases of positive MG samples and mutations are low in our reality, diagnostic tests to detect azithromycin resistant-associated genes may provide a convenient way to monitor resistance rate.

Keywords: Azithromycin resistance; Epidemiology; Multiplex real-time PCR; Mycoplasma genitalium; Surveillance.

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Azithromycin / pharmacology*
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial
  • Hospitals
  • Humans
  • Italy / epidemiology
  • Mycoplasma Infections / epidemiology*
  • Mycoplasma Infections / microbiology*
  • Mycoplasma genitalium / drug effects*
  • Prevalence
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Bacterial / epidemiology
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Bacterial / microbiology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Azithromycin