Molecular Typing of Mycoplasma pneumoniae Isolated from Pediatric Patients in Tokyo, Japan

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a major cause of respiratory diseases. One of the most important global concerns related to this pathogen is the acquisition of antibiotic resistance. As Mycoplasma spp. are naturally resistant to inhibitors of cell wall synthesis (e.g., penicillin and aminoglycosides) due to lack of a cell wall, other antibiotics such as macrolides have been used to treat patients with Mycoplasma infections. However, M. pneumoniae strains resistant to macrolides have recently emerged. The mechanism conferring the ability to over-