#Mycoplasma pneumoniae #Infections in Hospitalized #Children

#Mycoplasma pneumoniae #Infections in Hospitalized #Children — #USA, 2018–2024

Summary

- What is already known about this topic?

-- Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a common cause of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in school-aged children. In the United States, M. pneumoniae infection prevalence decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic and remained low through 2023.

- What is added by this report?

-- The number of hospital discharges of children with M. pneumoniae–associated CAP from U.S. pediatric hospitals increased sharply in 2024, accounting for approximately one half of hospitalized children with CAP. This number included children aged <5 years, a group in which M. pneumoniae infections have historically been less commonly reported. Data on length of hospitalization and intensive care unit admissions indicate that M. pneumoniae infections in 2024 were not more severe than 2018–2023 infections.

- What are the implications for public health practice?

-- Increased awareness among health care providers might improve diagnosis and could guide treatment of M. pneumoniae infections among children of all ages, especially during periodic increases in M. pneumoniae circulation and among children requiring hospitalization.

Abstract

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a common bacterial cause of respiratory infection and a leading cause of childhood community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Increases in M. pneumoniae infection occur every 3–5 years. In the United States, M. pneumoniae prevalence decreased during and immediately after the COVID-19 pandemic. Information from 42 U.S. children’s hospitals that provided information to the Pediatric Health Information System, a database of clinical and resource use information, was used to identify discharge diagnostic codes for 2018–2024 indicating M. pneumoniae infection. M. pneumoniae–associated CAP incidence among children aged ≤18 years was significantly higher in 2024 (12.5 per 1,000 hospitalizations) than during 2018–2023 (2.1). During the study period, an M. pneumoniae diagnostic code was listed in 11.5% of pediatric CAP hospitalizations, peaking at 53.8% in July 2024. Among pediatric M. pneumoniae CAP cases, the highest percentage occurred among children aged 6–12 years (42.6%), followed by children aged 2–5 years (25.7%) and 13–18 years (21.1%). The lowest occurred among those aged 12–23 months (6.4%) and 0–11 months (4.2%). M. pneumoniae infections in 2024 were not more severe than 2018–2023 infections, as assessed by length of hospitalization and percentage of patients admitted to an intensive care unit. The increase in M. pneumoniae infections in the United States in 2024 might be higher than previous periodic increases because the susceptible population was larger after sustained low incidence during and immediately after the COVID-19 pandemic. Health care providers should be aware of the periodicity of M. pneumoniae CAP and consider testing for this pathogen as a cause of respiratory illness among children of all ages.

Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, MMWR, https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/74/wr/mm7423a1.htm?s_cid=mm7423a1_e&ACSTrackingID=USCDC_921-DM147954&ACSTrackingLabel=Week%20in%20MMWR%3A%20Vol.%2074%2C%20June%2026%2C%202025&deliveryName=USCDC_921-DM147954

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