Abstract
BackgroundUreaplasma spp. have been implicated in a variety of clinical conditions and certain serovars are likely to be disease-associated. Hence, the ascending trend of Ureaplasma spp. resistance to antimicrobials should deserve more attention. Here we assessed the extent of antimicrobial resistance of Ureaplasma serovars in Tunisia, and investigated the underlying molecular basis.MethodsThis study included 101 molecularly typed Ureaplasma spp. clinical strains isolated over a 12-year time period (2005–2017). The antimicrobial susceptibility was tested against nine antibacterial agents using the broth microdilution method. Neighbor-joining tree was constructed to establish the phylogenetic relationships among isolates.ResultsWe found that all ureaplasma isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin and erythromycin, intermediately resistant to azithromycin, and susceptible to doxycycline, moxifloxacin and josamycin. Ofloxacin and levofloxacin resistance was found in 73.27 and 17.82%, respectively, while 37.62% of isolates proved resistant to tetracycline. Consequently, we detected an elevated multidrug resistance rate among ureaplasma isolates (37.62%), particularly among serovars 2, 5, 8, and 9 (77.77% overall), as well as serovars 4, 10, 12, and 13 (52.63% overall). In most cases, drug resistance was found to be associated with known molecular mechanisms, yet we have identified two novel mutations in the L22 protein, which might be associated with macrolide-resistance.ConclusionTo our knowledge, this is the first study that reports the widespread expansion of multidrug resistance among Ureaplasma serovars, a finding of importance in terms of both surveillance and antimicrobial usage.
Highlights
Ureaplasma spp. are members of the Mollicutes class of bacteria including Ureaplasma parvum (UPA) and Ureaplasma urealyticum (UUR)
Several studies have reported that UUR is more pathogenic than UPA [8,9,10], conflicting results were found by others [11], so it is possible that differential pathogenicity may exist at the serovar level rather than at the species level
UPA- and UUR- positive isolates were further subtyped into different serovars by nucleotide sequencing
Summary
Ureaplasma spp. are members of the Mollicutes class of bacteria including Ureaplasma parvum (UPA) and Ureaplasma urealyticum (UUR). They are recognized as one of the smallest known self-replicating and free-living organisms. Boujemaa et al Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control (serovars 1, 3, 6 and 14) and UUR (serovars 2, 4, 5 and 7– 13). It has been speculated for many years that individual ureaplasma species or serovars may be associated with certain diseases more than others. We assessed the extent of antimicrobial resistance of Ureaplasma serovars in Tunisia, and investigated the underlying molecular basis
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
