pone.0341580.t010 -

ObjectiveThis study investigates the current status of macrolide resistance in Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) and analyzes the relationship between mutations at the 23S rRNA A2063G and/or A2064G loci and refractory Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (RMPP).MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted on 205 hospitalized children diagnosed with MPP at the Third Ward of the department of paediatrics, Jingzhou Central Hospital, from October 2023 to October 2024. Diagnosis was confirmed by pharyngeal MP nucleic acid testing and MP antibody titers (MP-Ab ≥ 1:160). All patients were screened for macrolide-resistant gene mutations (A2063G/A2064G). Patients were categorized based on the presence of macrolide-resistant gene mutations and RMPP diagnosis. Clinical features, laboratory results, and treatments were compared between groups. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify independent risk factors for RMPP.ResultsAmong 205 children with MPP, 157 (76.6%) harbored A2063G/A2064G mutations. Of the 77 children with RMPP, 71 (92.2%) carried these mutations, showing a significant association (P P P ConclusionThe widespread macrolide resistance in M. pneumoniae (76.6% in this cohort) was associated with point mutations at the A2063G and/or A2064G loci in the 23S rRNA gene. The development of RMPP is linked to macrolide-resistant mutations, duration of fever and D-dimer levels. D-dimer emerged as the most predictive risk factor.