Exploring the clinical presentation, epidemiology and treatment of Mycoplasma, Ureaplasma, and Chlamydiales infections.

Aims and objectives

The ESCMID Study Group for Mycoplasma and Chlamydia Infections (ESGMAC) gathers physicians, veterinarians, microbiologists, and scientists. Together, they are dedicated to improving the understanding of clinical presentation and epidemiology (including antimicrobial resistance) of Mycoplasma, Ureaplasma, and Chlamydiales infections in both humans and animals. Their collaborative mission aims to:

• Define the clinical presentation of infections from various Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma genus, as well as those classified within the Chlamydiae phylum, both in humans and in animals
• Study the epidemiology of Mycoplasma and Chlamydiae infections and the transmission modes of new chlamydia-related bacteria
• Improve diagnostic tools for challenging-to-culture Mycoplasma and Chlamydiae, which are better detected by molecular assays
• Develop genomics capacity to better understand the biology of Chlamydiae and Mycoplasma, while providing sequences needed for molecular epidemiology
• Identify new drug targets and refine treatment protocols and duration for the large diversity of infections due to Chlamydiae and Mycoplasma, from very common and easy-to-treat infections like chlamydial urethritis to rare but serious cases such as Mycoplasma hominis endocarditis
• Understand the evolution of Chlamydiae phylum’s mollicutes
• Engage with active collaboration with relevant international scientific societies such as the International Organization for Mycoplasmology (IOM), the European Society for Chlamydia research (ESCR) and the European Society for Chlamydioses, Coxiellosis, Anaplasmosis, Rickettsioses and Bartonellosis (ESCCAR)