Director, Molecular Microbiology
Assistant Director, Clinical Microbiology and Immunoserology Laboratories
Nationwide Children's Hospital
Associate Professor - Clinical, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University
BIOGRAPHY
NOV 12, 2025 5:30 AM PST
Mycoplasma pneumoniae in the post COVID-19 era: Diagnostic challenges and rising macrolide resistance
Speaker
Abstract
Mycoplasma pneumoniae(MPN) is a major pathogen of community-acquired respiratory tract infections in school-age children with cyclic epidemics occurring every few years. Circulation of this pathogen declined sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic but has re-emerged in many regions since 2023. Macrolides are the drugs of choice for treatment of MPN infections. While macrolide resistance in MPN exceeds 90% in Eastern Asia, it remains low in the U.S. prior to the COVID-19.
This presentation will discuss the epidemiologic trends associated with post-pandemic resurgence of MPN, review current diagnostic strategies for MPN infections, and summarize treatment considerations and emerging data on macrolide resistance in the post–COVID-19 era.
Learning Objectives:
1. Describe Mycoplasma pneumoniae, the epidemiology and clinical presentation of M. pneumoniae infection
2. Review the laboratory diagnostic approaches for M. pneumoniae infections
3. Discuss treatment and macrolide resistance