The rates of mutations associated with macrolide resistance in Mycoplasma genitalium among patients with non-gonococcal sexually transmitted infections in Smolensk and Tula

Objective.

In this study, we examined the prevalence of macrolide-resistant M. genitalium in two Russian cities, Smolensk and Tula, between 2013 and 2017.

Materials and Methods.

DNA’s samples were isolated from urethral and cervicovaginal swabs using primary screening and tested for macrolide resistance-associated mutations by real-time PCR. This technology makes it possible to identify any nucleotide substitutions in the 23S rRNA M. genitalium gene at positions 2058, 2059, 2611 M. genitalium by melting curve analysis after the amplification.

Results.

According to the study in two cities (Smolensk and Tula) macrolide resistance-associated mutations were found in 3, 65% of isolates (²¹⁄₅₇₄). The A2058G transition 23S rRNA MGE was the most common mutation that is associated with macrolide resistance: ⁵⁄₁₂ (41.6%) – Smolensk, ⁸⁄₉ (88.8%) – Tula. Rare substitutions have been reported at position A2058T 23S rRNA MGE and at position C2611T23S rRNA MGE. All received data is published at the AntiMicrobial Resistance Map (AMRmap) (http://AMRmap.com).

Conclusions.

According to our study, the frequency of macrolide-resistance mutations in M. genitalium was not more than 4% in two cities of Central Russia during 2013–2017. Despite the relatively low rates of resistance of M. genitalium to macrolides in Smolensk and Tula, our data emphasize the need for epidemiological surveillance of resistance in this pathogen.