Changes in molecular characteristics of mycoplasma pneumoniae in clinical specimens from children in Beijing between 2003 and 2015

Abstract

The molecular characteristics of 480 Mycoplasma pneumoniae polymerase chain reactionpositive specimens (331 were previously reported and 149 were newly reported) collected from pediatric patients in Beijing, China, between 2003 and 2015 were analyzed. Genotype M4-5-7-2/P1 were the most prevalent across the 13-year study period, although the isolation and mutation rates for this genotype varied between the periods 2003±2007, 2008±2013, and 2014±2015. In addition, there was a close association between the M4-5-7-2 genotype and macrolide resistance.