High Prevalence of Mycoplasma faucium DNA in the Human Oropharynx
Authors: Jean-Luc Jouve
Guilhem No√´l
Pierre-Edouard Fournier
Michel Drancourt
Philippe Gautret
Antoine Roch
Andreas Stein
Didier Raoult
Ga√´lle Denis Courtois
Philippe Minodier
Philippe Brouqui
Sophie Edouard
Journal: Journal of Clinical Microbiology (2016)
Discipline: MICROBIOLOGY
Keywords: Mycoplasma faucium; brain abscesses; oropharynxes; quantitative real-time PCR; prevalence
Affiliations: Unit√© de Recherche sur les Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Emergentes, UM63, CNRS7278, IRD198, INSERM U 1095, Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire M√©diterran√©e-Infection, Aix-Marseille Universit√©, Facult√© de M√©decine, Marseille, France, IHU M√©diterran√©e Infection, P√¥le des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Clinique et Biologique, F√©d√©ration de Bact√©riologie-Hygi√®ne-Virologie, H√¥pital de la Timone, Assistance Publique-H√¥pitaux de Marseille, Marseille, France, IHU M√©diterran√©e Infection, P√¥le des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Clinique et Biologique, Service de Maladies Infectieuses, H√¥pital Nord, Assistance Publique-H√¥pitaux de Marseille, Marseille, France, Urgence P√©diatrique, H√¥pital de la Timone, Assistance Publique-H√¥pitaux de Marseille, Marseille, France, Urgence P√©diatrique, H√¥pital Nord, Assistance Publique-H√¥pitaux de Marseille, Marseille, France, Urgence Adulte, H√¥pital Nord, Assistance Publique-H√¥pitaux de Marseille, Marseille, France, IHU M√©diterran√©e Infection, P√¥le des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales Clinique et Biologique, Service de Maladies Infectieuses, H√¥pital La Conception, Assistance Publique-H√¥pitaux de Marseille, Marseille, France

Abstract:  Mycoplasma faucium has recently been associated with brain abscesses and seems to originate from the mouth. We evaluated its prevalence by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) in the oropharynxes of 644 subjects and found that 25% harbored M. faucium, probably constituting the gateway for entrance of the bacteria into cerebral abscesses. 

Retracted: No

PubPeer comments:
 Several articles have been published in different high impact factor journals concerning the results of the same protocol. This study was performed on muslims who participated in the 2013-2017 Hajj (extended to 2018 in some articles). In all these publications, the same protocol authorized by an IRB under the number 2013-A00961u201344 on July 23, 2013 has been used. But there is serious concern on the compliance of this study to the Helsinki Declaration. Authors mentioned that the study has been approved by IRB in July 23, 2013 and started in September 2013. The protocol was approved by the Aix Marseille Universitu00e9 institutional review board (July 23, 2013; reference no. 2013-A00961u201344). There is several discrepancies in these information. **Did The study start in 2012 before the ethics committee approval ?** In another journal, the Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease journal, certains of the same authors published the results of this protocol, with the same reference number. [Antibiotic use for respiratory infections among Hajj pilgrims: A cohort survey and review of the literature] For information, one of the authors is also Associate Editor in the Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease journal. In article published in Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease journal, you can note that the same protocol started in 2012 before to get the ethics committee approval and then, get the ethics committee approval after (on July 23, 2013). I quote: * Pilgrims from Marseille, France participating in the Hajj from 2012 to 2017 were recruited at a specialized travel agency organizing trips to Mecca. * * The protocol was approved by the Aix-Marseille University institutional review board (**July 23rd, 2013**; reference no. 2013-A00961-44). * This is not a spelling mistake. As mentioned in the study and annexes, 169 pilgrims have been recruited in 2012 and data are provided for this year with the same protocol. As the authors mentioned themselves in the Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease journal that the protocol reference no. 2013-A00961u201344 started in 2012, the Year 2012 should be considered as the study start date for all articles related to the protocol approved under the reference #2013-A00961u201344 A study cannot be published in a scientific journal if it started before to get the proper Ethics Committee approval. Retrospective ethics committee approval is a serious breach of the Helsinski Declaration. Furthermore, I would like to note that only certified IRB (aka CPP in France) can authorize prospective interventional studies in France. Aix Marseille Universitu00e9 Ethics Committee is not a certified IRB in France. The format of the reference # is a RCB ID. This # (2013-A00961u201344) is delivered by the French Health Agency. Not by a certified IRB (CPP). As a consequence, there is a ground for serious and legitimate concerns about the study start date and the ethic committee approval. With regards of the Helsinki Declaration, Editors should consider this matter and clarify this situation asap. **List of articles related to the protocol authorized under the number 2013-A00961u201344 on July 23, 2013** 1 - [Antibiotic use for respiratory infections among Hajj pilgrims: A cohort survey and review of the literature] 2 - [Respiratory Viruses and Bacteria among Pilgrims during the 2013 Hajj] 3 - [Lack of MERS Coronavirus but Prevalence of Influenza Virus in French Pilgrims after 2013 Hajj] 4 - [The dynamics and interactions of respiratory pathogen carriage among French pilgrims during the 2018 Hajj] 5 - [Gastrointestinal symptoms and the acquisition of enteric pathogens in Hajj pilgrims: a 3-year prospective cohort study] 6 - [Acquisition of multidrug-resistant bacteria and encoding genes among French pilgrims during the 2017 and 2018 Hajj] 7 - [Comparative genomics of two Shewanella xiamenensis strains isolated from a pilgrim before and during travels to the Hajj] 8 - [High Prevalence of Mycoplasma faucium DNA in the Human Oropharynx] 9 - [Comparison of nasal swabs with throat swabs for the detection of respiratory viruses by real-time reverse transcriptase PCR in adult Hajj pilgrims] 10 - [Respiratory tract infections among French Hajj pilgrims from 2014 to 2017] , 
 Expression of Concern, 7 September 2022: https: journals.asm.org doi 10.1128 jcm.01075-22 The text reads:  *The American Society for Microbiology was notified that the above-mentioned paper is being reviewed as part of a u201cscientific misconduct investigationu201d by the University of Aix Marseille. This Expression of Concern is issued pending the outcome of the investigation and will be updated accordingly thereafter.* , 
 Statement : Following the multiplication of comments on PUBPEER not intended to advance the scientific debate but only to question the work of the IHU of MARSEILLE, anonymous messages probably coming from a sphere of cyberstalking aimed at destabilizing the IHU and so that it is impossible to assess their scientific seriousness and the absence of conflicts of interests. A complaint was filed and an investigation opened to the Marseille prosecutor s office for cyberbullying, attempted blackmail and extortion against the PUBPEER site and the identified perpetrators among them Mrs. E. Bik. These comments only represent opinions or misinterpretations of ethical procedures or publication procedures and are sometimes even libelous and insulting. These comments on Pubpeer will therefore not be answered, the authors of which cannot legally claim the protective status of whistleblower. , 
 #3 Does Philippe Brouqui really have the authority to decide who can and who can t  legally claim the protective status of whistleblower ? ,