The Prevalence of Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Among Children in Beijing Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

ObjectiveMycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae) is an important pathogen of community acquired pneumonia. With the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the prevalence of some infectious respiratory diseases has varied. Epidemiological features of M. pneumoniae in children from Beijing (China) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic were investigated.MethodsBetween June 2016 and May 2021, a total of 569,887 children with respiratory infections from Children’s Hospital Affiliated to Capital Institute of Pediatrics (Beijing, China) were included in this study. M. pneumoniae specific-IgM antibody in serum specimens of these patients was tested by a rapid immunochromatographic assay kit. The relevant clinical data of M. pneumoniae-positive cases were also collected, and analyzed by RStudio software.ResultsThe results showed that 13.08% of collected samples were positive for M. pneumoniae specific-IgM antibody. The highest annual positive rate was 17.59% in 2019, followed by 12.48% in 2018, 12.31% in 2017, and 11.73% in 2016, while the rate dropped to 8.9% in 2020 and 4.95% in 2021, with significant difference. Among the six years, the positive rates in summer and winter seasons were significantly higher than those in spring and autumn seasons (p < 0.001). The positive rate was the highest in school-age children (22.20%), and lowest in the infant group (8.76%, p < 0.001). The positive rate in boys (11.69%) was lower than that in girls (14.80%, p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in different seasons, age groups, or genders before and during the COVID-19 pandemic (p > 0.05).ConclusionsOur study demonstrated that an M. pneumoniae outbreak started from the summer of 2019 in Beijing. After the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in the end of 2019, the M. pneumoniae positive rates dropped dramatically. This may be due to the restrictive measures of the COVID-19 pandemic, which effectively controlled the transmission of M. pneumoniae. The relationships between M. pneumoniae positive rates and season, age, and gender were not statistically significant before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Comparison of respiratory pathogens in children with community-acquired pneumonia before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…37°C is the optimum growth temperature for MP, which grows best in the hottest months in China such as July, August and September. But in 2020 fewer patients visited clinicians following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictive means against COVID-19 cut down the incidence of respiratory infections, there was a considerable reduction in the positive rate of MP since March, which remained at a comparatively low level afterwards, consistent with previous ndings in other studies [29][30][31]. At the start of the new term, the "Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of the Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia in Primary and Secondary Schools" was issued by the Ministry of Education to give a guide and assistant on the prevention and control of the epidemic in schools.…”

Identification ofMycoplasma pneumoniae-associated pneumonia cases among hospitalized patients using CLART® microarray technology

“…investigated the epidemiology of M. pneumoniae in Chinese children with respiratory infections from June 2016 to May 2021. 45 Reportedly, the positivity rates did not differ significantly in relation to the season, age group, gender, or period (before or during the COVID-19 pandemic) as revealed from the M. pneumoniae specific-IgM antibody rapid immuno-chromatographic assay of the serum specimens of 569,887 pediatric patients. 45…”

“…44 A retrospective study by Cheng et al investigated the epidemiology of M. pneumoniae in Chinese children with respiratory infections from June 2016 to May 2021. 45 Reportedly, the positivity rates did not differ significantly in relation to the season, age group, gender, or period (before or during the COVID-19 pandemic) as revealed from the M. pneumoniae specific-IgM antibody rapid immunochromatographic assay of the serum specimens of 569,887 pediatric patients. 45 Treatment strategies for CAP largely rely on the presented clinical symptoms (mild or severe) and infection type (bacterial-and/or viral-associated pneumonia; co-infection) suspected in patients with CAP.…”

“…45 Reportedly, the positivity rates did not differ significantly in relation to the season, age group, gender, or period (before or during the COVID-19 pandemic) as revealed from the M. pneumoniae specific-IgM antibody rapid immunochromatographic assay of the serum specimens of 569,887 pediatric patients. 45 Treatment strategies for CAP largely rely on the presented clinical symptoms (mild or severe) and infection type (bacterial-and/or viral-associated pneumonia; co-infection) suspected in patients with CAP. 4,[46][47][48] Over time, there has been a change in the CAP etiology concerning bacterial, viral, and fungal co-infections.…”

Overview of the epidemic characteristics of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection around COVID pandemic

“…In the summer of 2019, data revealed that a new round of outbreaks had begun. Then, as a result of the strict COVID‐19 containment policies implemented from 2020, this outbreak was effectively stopped [19], with a similar phenomenon seen in other regions of the world. A similar trend in outbreaks was observed in Japan from 1981 [20].…”