Antimicrobial resistance rates of urogenital mycoplasma hominis and ureaplasma species before and during the covid-19 pandemic: results from a greek survey, 2014 to 2022

ABSTRACT The prevalence of antibiotic-resistant urogenital mycoplasmas and ureaplasmas has been gradually increasing over the years, leading to greater concern for accurate diagnosis and

treatment. In this study, the antimicrobial resistance trends in Greece were analyzed using 2992 _Ureaplasma_ spp. and 371 M. hominis isolates collected between 2014 and 2022. Antibiotic

sensitivity was determined using eight different antimicrobial agents (josamycin, pristinamycin, clindamycin, ofloxacin, azithromycin, tetracycline, erythromycin, and doxycycline), with the

data analyzed using descriptive statistical methods. Resistance rates to clindamycin and erythromycin increased for both _M. hominis_ and _Ureaplasma_ spp., while remaining relatively low

for Tetracycline, Doxycycline, and Ofloxacin. For _Ureaplasma_ spp., high susceptibility was observed to pristinamycin, tetracycline, doxycycline, azithromycin, and josamycin, and

intermediate susceptibility to erythromycin. However, the resistance rate for clindamycin dramatically increased from 60% in 2014 to a peak of 98.46% in 2021, and the erythromycin resistance

rate increased from 9.54% in 2018 to 22.13% in 2021. _M. hominis_ exhibited consistently high resistance rates to Erythromycin, while Azithromycin resistance significantly increased over

time, from 52.78% in 2017 to 97.22% in 2022. The alarming escalation in antibiotic-resistant urogenital mycoplasmas and ureaplasmas in the Greek population is a significant concern.

Antibiotic overconsumption may have played a crucial role in increasing resistance trends. The implementation of nationwide surveillance systems, proper antibiotic stewardship policies, and

appropriate culture-based therapy policies are necessary to effectively control this emerging risk. Access through your institution Buy or subscribe This is a preview of subscription

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ACCESS OPTIONS: * Log in * Learn about institutional subscriptions * Read our FAQs * Contact customer support DATA AVAILABILITY The data presented in this study are available upon reasonable

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contributed equally: Karolina Akinosoglou, Aristotelis Tsiakalos AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * Medical School, University of Patras, 26504, Rio, Greece Karolina Akinosoglou, Georgios Schinas 

& Eleni Polyzou * Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, University General Hospital of Patras, 26504, Rio, Greece Karolina Akinosoglou & Eleni Polyzou * Leto

General, Maternity & Gynecology Clinic, 11524, Athens, Greece Aristotelis Tsiakalos * Bioiatriki Healthcare Group, Kifisias 132 and Papada Street, 115 26, Athens, Greece Ioanna D.

Dimopoulou & Jenny Kourea-Kremastinou * Department of Microbiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 75 Mikras Asias Street, 11527, Athens, Greece

Vassiliki C. Pitiriga Authors * Karolina Akinosoglou View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Aristotelis Tsiakalos View author publications You

can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Ioanna D. Dimopoulou View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Georgios Schinas View

author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Eleni Polyzou View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Jenny

Kourea-Kremastinou View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Vassiliki C. Pitiriga View author publications You can also search for this author

inPubMed Google Scholar CONTRIBUTIONS AT, VP conceived the idea, AT, VP, JKK, ID collected data, KA, GS, EP analyzed data, KA wrote the manuscript, AT, VP critically corrected the

manuscript. CORRESPONDING AUTHOR Correspondence to Karolina Akinosoglou. ETHICS DECLARATIONS CONFLICT OF INTEREST The authors declare no competing interests. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

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THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Akinosoglou, K., Tsiakalos, A., Dimopoulou, I.D. _et al._ Antimicrobial resistance rates of urogenital _Mycoplasma hominis_ and _Ureaplasma_ species before and

during the COVID-19 pandemic: results from a Greek survey, 2014 to 2022. _J Antibiot_ 77, 120–125 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41429-023-00680-5 Download citation * Received: 21 May

2023 * Revised: 28 August 2023 * Accepted: 28 October 2023 * Published: 29 November 2023 * Issue Date: February 2024 * DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41429-023-00680-5 SHARE THIS ARTICLE

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