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. pneum...
Media Monitoring for Signals about Emerging Threats