Summary

What CDC knows

Bacterial infections caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae In the United States, they have been increasing since late spring and have remained high. The proportion of patients discharged from the emergency department with the diagnosis M. pneumoniae-associated pneumonia or acute bronchitis have increased over the past six months and peaked in late August.

What CDC does

CDC is closely monitoring the recent surge M. pneumoniae infections using various surveillance tools to better understand any differences in demographics, disease severity and outcomes compared to M. Pneumoniae infections before the COVID-19 pandemic. CDC is also reaching out to healthcare providers and health authorities to raise awareness of the increase M. pneumoniae Infections and surveillance of antibiotic resistance.

M. pneumoniae are bacteria that can cause pneumonia

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a common cause of mild respiratory illnesses. The number has been increasing since late spring M. pneumoniae has increased, particularly in young children. This differs from published studies in previous years, in which most infections were observed in school-age children and adolescents.

Mycoplasmas is a bacterium that can infect various parts of the body. M. pneumoniae is a type of Mycoplasmas which can lead to respiratory infections. The bacteria can damage the lining of the respiratory tract, including the throat, trachea and lungs.

M. pneumoniae Infections are generally mild and usually manifest as a chest cold, but can also manifest as pneumonia. Symptoms typically begin gradually and can include fever, cough and sore throat. If a M. pneumoniae If the infection leads to pneumonia, it is typically a less severe form of bacterial pneumonia, commonly called “walking pneumonia.”

Although rare, serious complications from infection that require hospital treatment can occur, including new or worsening asthma, severe pneumonia, and encephalitis (brain disease). M. pneumoniae is a common cause of bacterial infections in people requiring hospital treatment for community-acquired pneumonia.

M. pneumoniae Infections can occur at any age, but are most common in children ages 5 to 17 and young adults. Younger children may experience other symptoms (e.g. diarrhea, wheezing, or vomiting).

The number of diagnoses increased in all age groups, especially among young children

M. pneumoniae Infections are common, with an estimated 2 million infections occurring each year in the United States. However, the actual number of people affected each year is unknown because there is no national reporting or dedicated surveillance system to track these infections. M. pneumoniae Infections may occur more frequently in summer and early fall.

In 2023 M. pneumoniae After a prolonged period of low infection rates since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a resurgence worldwide. CDC routinely monitors emergency room care for people with pneumonia and other respiratory illnesses. So far in 2024, the CDC has seen an increase in the percentage of pneumonia-related emergency room visits with a discharge diagnosis M. pneumoniae.

The M. pneumoniae Discharge diagnosis data from March 31 to October 5, 2024 show an increase across all age groups in the United States that peaked in August and remains high. However, the increase was highest among children. The percentage increased during this period from 1.0% to 7.2% in children aged 2-4 years and from 3.6% to 7.4% in children aged 5-17 years. The The increase in children ages 2 to 4 is notable Because M. pneumoniae Historically, it was not considered a major cause of pneumonia in this age group.

The CDC can also see data showing how often patients are testing positive M. pneumoniae (i.e. test positivity). This data shows that test positivity for M. pneumoniae has also increased across all age groups since late spring, from 0.7% to 3.3%. This data comes from laboratory test results reported to bioMérieux BIOFIRE® Syndromic Trends Program that tracks trends in the spread of pathogens using laboratory data from across the United States.

M. pneumoniae Spread through respiratory droplets

M. pneumoniae Bacteria are spread by inhaling respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Other people can become infected if they breathe in these droplets. Strategies to prevent respiratory viruses, such as washing hands and covering coughs and sneezes, also prevent the spread of these bacteria.

Outbreaks most often occur in crowded settings such as schools, college dorms and nursing homes. Outbreaks may prolong for the following reasons:

• the long incubation period of M. Pneumonia, which is between one and four weeks;
• the ability of bacteria to remain in the respiratory tract for several months; And
• the persistent appearance of symptoms such as cough.

Most people spend a short time with someone who is sick M. pneumoniae Don't get infected. However, people spend a lot of time with someone who is sick M. pneumoniae are at increased risk.

Some people become infected more often than others. For example, people recovering from a respiratory illness and those with weakened immune systems are at increased risk of serious infections.

There are different ways to diagnose M. pneumoniae Infections

Testing on M. pneumoniae Infections most commonly occur in the emergency room or hospital. Tests are rarely carried out on an outpatient basis or in clinics. For testing M. pneumoniaeHealth care providers collect a sample, often a swab from the nose or throat or, less commonly, a blood sample.

M. pneumoniae Testing typically occurs as part of a respiratory panel that tests for many pathogens, including influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, COVID-19 and other viruses and bacteria. Health care providers often also physically examine the patient and look for signs of respiratory illness. If clinically indicated, a chest x-ray may be ordered to determine whether the patient has pneumonia.

Treatment with antibiotics could help people who develop pneumonia

Most people with a mild M. pneumoniae The infection clears up on its own without medication. Over-the-counter medications can help you feel better during recovery.

Health care providers may use different types of antibiotics to treat people with pneumonia caused by pneumonia M. pneumoniae. M. pneumoniae Bacteria are natural resistant to certain antibiotics (e.g. beta-lactams such as amoxicillin), which are often used to treat other types of bacterial pneumonia. Macrolides (e.g. azithromycin) are the antibiotics of first choice M. pneumoniae Infection. Macrolide resistant M. pneumoniae remains relatively rare in the United States.

Identify precisely M. pneumoniae Infections and the appropriate treatment of potentially infected individuals are complicated by unique challenges, including:

• Symptoms of M. pneumoniae Infections often resemble diseases caused by other respiratory pathogens;
• Prolonged absence of a diagnosis M. pneumoniae Infections during the COVID-19 pandemic; And
• Limited availability or use of diagnostic methods in some settings.

CDC recommendations

For clinicians and public health practitioners

• Make sure healthcare providers are aware of the increase M. pneumoniae Infections.
• Consider M. pneumoniae as a possible cause of infection in children admitted to hospital with community-acquired pneumonia.
  • I have increased suspicion M. pneumoniae in patients with community-acquired pneumonia who do not improve clinically with treatment with antibiotics that are known to be ineffective M. pneumoniaelike beta-lactams.
• Perform laboratory tests if M. pneumoniae Particularly in hospitalized children, infection is suspected to ensure that appropriate antibiotic therapy is administered.
• Consider swabbing both the throat and nasopharynx to increase the probability of detection in respiratory swab samples.
• Consider using a second-line antibiotic such as fluoroquinolones or tetracyclines to treat patients with suspected or confirmed disease M. pneumoniae Infection that does not improve with macrolides.
• Promote the prudent use of antibiotics and minimize the risk of antibiotic resistance by not prescribing antibiotics unless indicated by clinical and/or laboratory evidence.
• Promote CDC recommendations for key prevention strategies to prevent respiratory illnesses, including good hand hygiene and covering coughs and sneezes.

For the public

• Find out more about M. pneumoniae Symptoms such as fever, headache and a slowly worsening cough. Be aware of who may be at higher risk for serious illness, including people with asthma or reactive respiratory disease.
• Protect yourself and others by following basic prevention strategies to prevent the spread M. pneumoniae and other respiratory germs.
• Seek medical attention if you or your child have persistent or worsening symptoms M. pneumoniae Infections such as wheezing or difficulty breathing, especially if you or others are at increased risk of developing a serious illness.