AUTHOR=Du Hui , Li Jun , Li Xilin , Zhao Junhua , Lu Wei , Zhang Qiong , Liu Wenchun , Luo Xinbing , Lu Qiao , Hu Sanhong , Ma Jilong , He Renzhong , Sha Bangwu , Zhang Lihua , Wu Jinhui , Yang Junjie , Li Hongli , Chen Hebin , Li Ying , Li Yang , Lin Yaxin , Liu Yuehu , Wu Yabin , Liu Yang , Li Jianmu , Lu Xiaoxia 

TITLE=Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on epidemiological and clinical characteristics of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in children: a multicenter study from Hubei, China

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pediatrics

VOLUME=12

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pediatrics/articles/10.3389/fped.2024.1388132

DOI=10.3389/fped.2024.1388132

ISSN=2296-2360

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Aims</title><p>To investigate the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of children with <italic>Mycoplasma pneumoniae</italic> pneumonia (MPP) in Hubei, China.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>We retrospectively analyzed inpatients with MPP from 20 hospitals in Hubei, China from January 2021 to December 2022. The co-detected pathogens of <italic>Mycoplasma pneumoniae</italic> (<italic>M. pneumoniae</italic>) were investigated using targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS), and 23S rRNA gene mutations were analyzed to assess the macrolide resistance.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p><italic>M. pneumoniae</italic> infected 20.7% of patients with CAP, with cough (96.59%) and fever (80.28%) being the most prevalent symptoms. The infection rates in children younger than 1, 1–2, 3–6, 7–12, and older than 12 years were 6.17%, 19.98%, 26.97%, 43.93%, and 2.95%, respectively. Among 1,349 patients undergoing tNGS, the overall co-detection rate was 59.45%, with <italic>Streptococcus pneumoniae</italic> (29.30%), <italic>Haemophilus influenzae</italic> (23.57%), and <italic>Human rhinovirus</italic> (17.21%) being the most commonly co-detected pathogens. In 635 patients undergoing the 23S rRNA gene mutation test, 86.30% exhibited positive mutations (A2063G, 98.00%; A2064G, 1.50%; A2067G, 0.50%). Despite a significant age difference (<italic>P</italic> = 0.037) between macrolide-resistant <italic>M. pneumoniae</italic> and macrolide-sensitive <italic>M. pneumoniae</italic> groups, there were no significant differences in symptoms, lab data, or disease severity.</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusions</title><p>In Hubei Province, the prevalence of exhibited consistent changes during the COVID-19 pandemic. MPP was prevalent year-round, particularly in summer and autumn, with school-age children being more susceptible. Co-detections of viruses and bacteria were frequent in MPP cases, and macrolide resistance exceeded 85%. Ongoing surveillance of <italic>M. pneumoniae</italic> in children is crucial for understanding the healthcare impact of MPP.</p></sec>