Molecular detection and evaluation of resistance of Mycoplasma Pneumoniae to macrolide (Erythromycin) due to mutation in the 23S rRNA gene among Iranian Patients with respiratory infections

Abstract Objective: Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a common cause of community-acquired pneumonia. The global increased resistance of M. pneumoniae strains to macrolide (ML) has become a worrisome health problem. The widespread use of these drugs has led to increased rate of reported ML-resistant M. pneumoniae (MRMP) throughout the world. Therefore, this study was aimed to evaluate the resistance of M. pneumoniae against erythromycin due to mutations in the 23S rRNA gene of patients with respiratory infections in Iran.Results: According to the findings of the present study, employing specific primers showed that 17 cases (17%) were positive for mycoplasma genus and 6 cases (6%) positive for M. pneumoniae species. Also, analysis of the sequence of 23S rRNA gene, revealed that one of the samples had mutations at positions A2431G and G2491A. Measuring the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), revealed that all samples positive for M. pneumoniae with 23S rRNA gene were sensitive to erythromycin, and no ML resistance was reported.