Predicting macrolide susceptibility in Mycoplasma (Mycoplasmoides) pneumoniae
Rapid Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) using Light Cycler and Fluorescent Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET)
Mycoplasma pneumoniae
Mycoplasmoides pneumoniae
Varies
This test should only be ordered on specimens that have tested positive for Mycoplasma (Mycoplasmoides) pneumoniae. This assay predicts M pneumoniae macrolide (Azithromycin) resistance only.
For detection of M pneumoniae prior to macrolide resistance testing , order MPRP / Mycoplasma (Mycoplasmoides) pneumoniae with Macrolide Resistance Reflex, Molecular Detection, PCR, Varies.
Specimen source is required; include the specific anatomic source.
Question ID | Description | Answers |
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SRCMP | Specimen Source |
The high sensitivity of amplification by polymerase chain reaction requires the specimen to be processed in an environment in which contamination of the specimen by Mycoplasma (Mycoplasmoides) pneumoniae DNA is unlikely.
Submit only 1 of the following specimens:
Specimen Type: Swab
Supplies:
-Culturette (BBL Culture Swab) (T092)
-BD E-swab (T853)
-Nasopharyngeal Swab (Nylon Mini-Tip Swab) (T861)
-Culture Swab-Liquid Stuarts/Single Swab (NP Swab) (T515)
-M4-RT (T605)
Sources: Throat, nasal, or nasopharyngeal
Container/Tube:
Preferred: Culture swab transport system (Dacron or rayon swab with aluminum or plastic shaft with either Stuart or Amies liquid medium)
Acceptable: Culture transport swab (Stuart's media) or place swab in M4, M4-RT, M5, M6, universal transport media, or ESwab
Specimen Volume: Swab
Collection Instructions:
1. Collect specimen by swabbing back and forth over mucosa surface to maximize recovery of cells.
2. Place swab back into swab cylinder.
Specimen Type: Fluid
Sources: Pleural, pericardial, cerebrospinal
Container/Tube: Sterile container
Specimen Volume: 0.5 mL
Specimen Type: Respiratory
Sources: Bronchial washing, bronchoalveolar lavage, tracheal secretions, sputum
Container/Tube: Sterile container
Specimen Volume: 1 mL
If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send a Microbiology Test Request (T244) with the specimen.
Respiratory: 0.5 mL
Other specimen types: See Specimen Required
Cotton or calcium alginate-tipped swab, wooden shaft swab, transport swab containing gel or charcoal Port-a-Cul tube Anaerobic fluid vials Dry swab (no pledget or sponge) Respiratory fluid specimens placed in viral transport medium (VTM) or placed on a swab and then into VTM (M4-RT, M4, or M5) Body fluid specimens placed in viral transport medium (VTM) or placed on a swab and then in VTM (M4-RT, M4, or M5) | Reject |
Specimen Type | Temperature | Time | Special Container |
---|---|---|---|
Varies | Refrigerated (preferred) | 7 days | |
Frozen | 7 days |
Predicting macrolide susceptibility in Mycoplasma (Mycoplasmoides) pneumoniae
Mycoplasma (Mycoplasmoides) pneumoniae is a small bacterium transmitted via organism-containing droplets. It is a cause of upper respiratory infection, pharyngitis, and tracheobronchitis, particularly in children, and has been associated with approximately 20% of cases of community acquired pneumonia.(1) Central nervous system and cardiac manifestations are some of the extrapulmonary complications of infections due to M pneumoniae. The disease is usually self-limited although severe disease may occur, including in patients who are immunocompromised.(2)
Macrolide resistance in M pneumoniae has steadily increased since the early 2000s. Reports suggest over 90% of M pneumoniae isolates are now macrolide resistant in areas of Japan and China, with macrolide resistance also noted in other countries.(3) Macrolides are a common treatment for respiratory tract infections and M pneumoniae. Resistance in M pneumoniae typically corresponds to single point mutations in the 23S ribosomal RNA of the 50S bacterial ribosomal subunit. Among the reported point mutations, mutations at positions 2064 and 2063 are the most common and confer to high-level macrolide resistance.(3) In a study performed at Mayo Clinic, 10% of M pneumoniae detections were associated with macrolide resistance.(4)
Culture, serologic testing, and molecular-based techniques can be used to detect M pneumoniae infection. While detection of macrolide resistance may be determined through culture methods (with antimicrobial susceptibility testing), it is impractical due to the organism’s slow and fastidious growth requirements. Real-time polymerase chain reaction testing can be used to assess for common mutations associated with macrolide resistance in M pneumoniae.
Not Predicted
A macrolide resistance predicted or not predicted result indicates the presence of Mycoplasma (Mycoplasmoides) pneumoniae 23S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene and indicates whether one of the 2 most common 23S rRNA gene single nucleotide variations (A2064G and A2063G) associated with high-level macrolide resistance is predicted.
An "unable to assess" result for M pneumoniae macrolide resistance indicates the absence of detectable M pneumoniae 23S rRNA DNA but does not negate the presence of the organism and may occur due to inhibition of the polymerase chain reaction, sequence variability underlying primers or probes, or the presence of M pneumoniae 23S rRNA DNA in quantities less than the limit of detection of the assay.
This assay should only be used for testing of respiratory tract specimens (throat swabs, nasopharyngeal swabs, tracheal secretions, sputum, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid) and pleural/chest fluid, pericardial fluid, and cerebrospinal fluid that has already tested positive for Mycoplasma (Mycoplasmoides)pneumoniae using a nucleic acid amplification test.
Test results should be used as an aid in the diagnosis. The single assay should not be used as the only criterion to form a treatment decision; results of this test should be correlated with clinical presentation and results of other laboratory tests. A negative result does not negate the presence of the organism or active disease.
Rarely encountered Mycoplasma species may be detected with this assay when present at high concentrations, however this assay is intended to be used as reflex for previously identified M pneumoniae positive samples. Therefore, cross reactivity with other Mycoplasma species is not a major concern.
This assay examines the two most common 23S ribosomal RNA single point variants associated with high-level macrolide resistance. Other mechanisms of macrolide resistance are not assessed nor are mechanisms of resistance to non-macrolide antimicrobial agents.
Accuracy:
During laboratory verification studies, 129 respiratory specimens (86 respiratory swabs, 16 bronchoalveolar lavage, 1 pleural/pericardial, 25 sputum, and 1 cerebrospinal fluid) previously tested via Mayo Clinic's Mycoplasma (Mycoplasmoides) pneumoniae PCR test were reflexed for macrolide prediction. Upon reflex, this assay detected M pneumoniae 23S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) DNA in 114/129 samples (89.4% overall percent agreement).
Assessment of macrolide resistance prediction was made by performing bidirectional Sanger sequencing on all macrolide (Azithromycin) resistant samples. All 103 samples with predicted macrolide susceptible M pneumoniae, demonstrated wildtype 23S rRNA gene sequence at positions 2063 and 2064. All 11 samples with predicted clarithromycin resistant M pneumoniae, demonstrated single nucleotide polymorphisms of A2063G or A2064G with the M pneumoniae 23S rRNA gene.
Limit of detection:
The limit of detection of the assay is less than 10 target copies/mcL for all validated specimen types and gene targets.
Analytical specificity:
The assay was tested against a panel of 87 organisms consisting of bacteria and viruses representing normal respiratory microbiota and/or respiratory pathogens (including 26 Mollicute species). Among the 23 other species of Mycoplasma (Mycoplasmoides) tested, there was cross-reactivity noted among Mycoplasma (Mycoplasmoides) testudinis (likely not found in humans and has not been reported to cause disease in humans) and Mycoplasma (Mycoplasmoides) pirum. This assay is intended to be used as reflex for previously identified M pneumoniae positive samples. Therefore, this cross reactivity with other Mycoplasma (Mycoplasmoides) species is not a major concern.
1. Waites KB, Taylor-Robinson D: Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma. In. Versalovic J, Carroll K, Funke G, et al, eds. Manual of Clinical Microbiology. ASM Press; 2011: 970-985
2. Jensen JS, Heilmann C, Valerius NH. Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in a child with AIDS. Clin Infect Dis. 1994;19(1):207
3. Waites KB, Xiao L, Liu Y, Balish MF, Atkinson TP. Mycoplasma pneumoniae from the Respiratory Tract and Beyond. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2017;30(3):747-809
4. Rothstein TE, Cunningham SA, Rieke RA, Mainella JM, Mutchler MM, Patel R. Macrolide Resistance in Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Midwestern United States, 2014 to 2021. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2022;66(4):e0243221
5. Schmitt BH, Sloan LM, Patel R. Real-time PCR detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in respiratory specimens. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2013;77(3):202-205
When Mycoplasma (Mycoplasmoides) pneumoniae is detected via previous nucleic acid amplification test, a reflexive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is performed to assess the 23S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene region of M pneumoniae and predict macrolide resistance based on the most common, high-level point mutations at positions 2064 and 2063 via melting curve analysis. Note, samples deemed positive outside of Mayo Clinic Laboratories may be processed according to specimen type prior to PCR testing. This includes extraction by the MagNA Pure 96 automated instrument (Roche Applied Science).
A specific target sequence of the 23S rRNA gene from M pneumoniae is targeted by primers and fluorescence resonance energy transfer hybridization probes. The LightCycler 480 II instrument (Roche Applied Science) amplifies and monitors the development of target nucleic acid sequences after the annealing step during PCR cycling. Detection and prediction of the M pneumoniae target is performed through melting curve analysis using the LightCycler software. While the wild-type genotype will display a stable melting temperature, the designed primer and probe combinations will be highly sensitive to single nucleotide mutations resulting in a cooler (left-shift) melting temperature value. PCR inhibition is monitored through use of a recovery template.(Schmitt BH, Sloan LM, Patel R: Real-time PCR detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in respiratory specimens. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2013 Nov;77[3]:202-205; Schmitt BH, Sloan LM, Patel R. Real-time PCR detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in respiratory specimens. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2013 Nov;77[3]:202-205)
Monday through Sunday
This test was developed and its performance characteristics determined by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements. It has not been cleared or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.
87798
Test Id | Test Order Name | Order LOINC Value |
---|---|---|
RPMPM | M. pneumoniae Macrolide Resist PCR | 6483-2 |
Result Id | Test Result Name |
Result LOINC Value
Applies only to results expressed in units of measure originally reported by the performing laboratory. These values do not apply to results that are converted to other units of measure.
|
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SRCMP | Specimen source | 31208-2 |
619928 | M. pneumoniae Macrolide Resistance | 6483-2 |
Change Type | Effective Date |
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Test Changes - Specimen Information | 2023-10-10 |
New Test | 2023-09-12 |