Being a bacterium, M. hyopneumoniae infection can be treated with antimicrobials. Although antibiotic resistance of M. hyopneumoniae has been shown to a limited extent, without a cell wall, Mycoplasmas are naturally resistant to antibiotics such as ẞ-lactams, glycopeptides and fosfomycin that target cell-wall synthesis.

Antibiotics can reduce pneumonia and clinical signs and improve performance. Another important characteristic of antibiotics in eradication programs is that they can lower bacterial loads in the respiratory tract, and thus have an indirect effect of decreasing pathogen transmission. Nevertheless, they won’t clear the bacteria, as persistence of pathogen detection by PCR has lasted for several months post treatment.

It is important to recognize that the drivers of M. hyopneumoniae persistence in the host are not fully known, and are difficult to assess with the available diagnostic techniques. Thus, in the case of a herd closure, the beginning of infection (Day 0) and time post exposure are arguably the two most important aspects to consider in relation to the persistence of infection and treatment.

Accurately estimating appropriate dose, duration, route and drug selection is crucial when applying antibiotic programs.