Epidemiological comparison of threeMycoplasma pneumoniaepneumonia epidemics in a single hospital over 10 years

Abstract

PurposeMycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) pneumonia epidemics have occurred in 3- to 4-year cycles in Korea. We evaluated the epidemiologic characteristics of MP pneumonia in Daejeon, Korea, from 2003 to 2012.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed 779 medical records of children (0-15 years of old) with MP pneumonia admitted to our institution and compared the data from 3 recent epidemics.ResultsIn 779 patients, the mean age and male-to-female ratio were 5.0±2.2 years and 1:1, and most cases were observed in autumn. There were three epidemics during the study period, in 2003, 2006-2007, and 2011. In our comparison of the three epidemics, we found no differences in mean age, the male-to-female ratio, hospital stay, or the rate of seroconverters during hospitalization. All three epidemics began in early summer and peaked in September 2003 and 2011 and in October 2006 and then gradually decreased until the next year's spring season, although the 2006 epidemic extended further into 2007. The peak age groups in the children in 2003 and 2006 were 3-6 year-olds (57.5% and 56%, respectively), but in the 2011 epidemic, the peak group was 1-4 year-olds (46.5%). The proportion of the <2 years of age group was 20%, 15.7% and 28.8%, and >10 years of age group was 5.2%, 13.8%, and 14.8% of total patients, respectively.ConclusionMP pneumonia outbreaks occurred every 3-4 years. The pattern of 3 recent epidemics was similar in demographic characteristics and seasonality with some variations in each outbreak.

Emergence of Macrolide-Resistant Mycoplasma pneumoniae in Hong Kong Is Linked to Increasing Macrolide Resistance in Multilocus Variable-Number Tandem-Repeat Analysis Type 4-5-7-2

“…This is in line with reports describing more M. pneumoniae infections with increased relative humidity and ambient temperature (19,20). In our neighborhood areas, recent epidemic outbreaks of M. pneumoniae infections were also noted in South Korea from 2010 to 2011, in Japan from 2011 to 2012, and in Beijing and Shanghai, China, in 2012 (4,21,22). Notably, a substantial increase in the prevalence of MRMP infection was noted in the areas during or shortly after those epidemics (3,4,(21)(22)(23).…”

“…In our neighborhood areas, recent epidemic outbreaks of M. pneumoniae infections were also noted in South Korea from 2010 to 2011, in Japan from 2011 to 2012, and in Beijing and Shanghai, China, in 2012 (4,21,22). Notably, a substantial increase in the prevalence of MRMP infection was noted in the areas during or shortly after those epidemics (3,4,(21)(22)(23). Our data revealed that the MRMP infection rate had increased by Ͼ3-fold from 13.6% in 2011 to 47.1% in 2014.…”

Clinical features according to chest radiologic patterns ofMycoplasmapneumonia in children

“…According to a Korean study by Eun et al [3], 44% of all MP cases occur in children aged less than 5 years, with a decreasing incidence age during epidemics [3,4,9]. In this study, infants and toddlers aged less than 3 years accounted for 29.5% of the entire study cohort, while 65.2% accounted for preschool children aged 7 years or younger.…”

“…Eun et al [3] suggested that the increasing number of infants and toddlers attending day care centers might explain the increasing incidence in younger children. Kim et al [9] suspected that immunity acquired by older children during epidemics every 3-4 years might have led to a lower incidence rate. The seasonal incidence rate of MP appears to peak around September and October, with a prolonged incidence during the entire winter season [4,9].…”

“…Mycoplasma pneumonia (MP) occurs in all seasons, but previous Korean studies have shown an epidemic incidence with periodicity of every 3-4 years [3,4], and it has been seen more commonly in older children or adolescents [2,5]. However, a high incidence rate has also recently been reported in 1-4-year-old children [3,[6][7][8][9].…”