Detection of <em>Mycoplasma pneumoniae</em> Nucleic Acid and Drug Resistance Gene

Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Mp) represents one of the most prevalent pathogens responsible for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in pediatric populations. The detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae resistance genes provides robust technical support and a theoretical foundation for the precise clinical diagnosis and treatment of MP infections. Accurate diagnosis and evaluation of drug resistance in Mp infection are essential for clinical treatment. Common detection methods for Mycoplasma pneumoniae include culture, antibody detection, and molecular biology-based assays. Mp culture is the gold standard for diagnosis but requires a specific medium, is time-consuming, and has low sensitivity. Antibody-based detection of Mp is widely used; however, false negatives may occur in the early stage of infection. Molecular biology-based detection provides rapid turnaround, low risk of contamination, high sensitivity, high specificity, and is not limited by the timing of sample collection or immune status. It has therefore been recognized as a new gold standard for diagnosing Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection. Macrolide agents are the first-choice treatment for Mp infection in children. However, with the extensive use of macrolides in respiratory tract infections in children, the incidence of drug-resistant Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection has been increasing. Patients infected with resistant strains experience significantly longer fever duration, extended hospitalization, and prolonged fever after administration compared with those infected with sensitive strains. Mutation sites identified to date include 2063, 2064, 2067, and 2617. In China, point mutations have been documented only at positions 2063 and 2064, with an A-to-G substitution at position 2063 being the most common. For these sites, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) combined with fluorescent probe technology has been employed to detect the nucleic acids and drug resistance mutations of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in human sputum samples. Detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae resistance genes offers crucial technical support and a theoretical basis for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment of Mp infection.