Rapid testing for fluoroquinolone resistance in Mycoplasma genitalium

Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) is a sexually transmissible bacterium that is associated with urethritis in men and with pelvic inflammatory disease, cervicitis, preterm birth and spontaneous abortion in women. The treatment of MG infection is threatened by increasing frequency of fluoroquinolone antibiotic resistance. Therefore, resistance testing is becoming more important.
The MGMO qPCR, a multiplex real-time Taqman-based PCR kit of NYtor, which detects four parC mutations associated with fluoroquinolone resistance (Ser83Ile, Ser83Arg, Asp87Asn, Asp87Tyr) has been validated by Gardette et al. from Bordeaux University Hospital and National Reference Center for bacterial sexually transmitted infections in Bordeaux (F).

The clinical sensitivity for fluoroquinolone resistance detection was 93.2% (CI: 85.1-97.1). The clinical specificity for resistance detection was 100% (CI: 98.7-100%) for the NYtor kit. Regarding data analysis, results were easy to interpret, concludes clinical investigator Gardette.

The MGMO qPCR kit enables rapid fluoroquinolone susceptibility testing and could allow for resistant guided therapy based on the results of a single qPCR assay. By identifying susceptibility to available antibiotics, doctors can prescribe the best antibiotic for their patients.