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Antigen-Capture Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Specific Detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae
Published on: February 24, 2023
Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in the elderly
Naoyuki Miyashita1, Kazunobu Ouchi, Kozo Kawasaki
1Division of Respiratory Diseases, Department of Medicine, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan. nao@med.kawasaki-m.ac.jp
Background:
Mycoplasma pneumoniae is one of the most common causes of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). This infection occurs predominantly in school-aged children and younger adults, but may also occur in the elderly.
Material/Methods:
To investigate the frequency and clinical characteristics of M. pneumoniae pneumonia in the elderly, we analyzed 210 hospitalized patients with M. pneumoniae pneumonia over a 15-year period.
Results:
Thirty-two (15.2%) were 60 years of age or older. The frequencies of a comorbid illness with the age >or=60-years group were significantly higher than those of the age <60-years group (p<0.0001). The symptoms were almost identical in both age groups, but the fever magnitude was significantly lower in the age >or=60-years group than the age <60-years group (p<0.0001). One or more additional etiological factors were found more frequently in the age >or=60-years group than in the age <60-years group (37.5% vs 10.1%, p=0.0003). The diagnostic sensitivity for M. pneumoniae pneumonia using the Japanese CAP guidelines scoring system was significantly lower in the age >or=60-years group than in the age <60-years group (50% vs 90%, p <0.0001).
Conclusions:
Our results indicate that the frequency of M. pneumoniae pneumonia in the elderly was low but not rare. The symptoms and severity of the illness from this infection were almost identical in both age groups and the mortality rate was low even in the elderly. It seems to be difficult to distinguish between M. pneumoniae pneumonia and bacterial pneumonia in the elderly.
Insights
Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia is uncommon but not rare in the elderly. Symptoms are similar to younger adults, but fever is less severe, complicating diagnosis in older patients.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Pulmonology
- Geriatrics
Background:
- Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a common cause of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).
- Elderly individuals are susceptible to CAP, but M. pneumoniae infections are less frequent in this demographic.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the frequency and clinical characteristics of M. pneumoniae pneumonia in elderly patients.
- To compare M. pneumoniae pneumonia in elderly versus younger adults.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 210 hospitalized patients with M. pneumoniae pneumonia over 15 years.
- Comparison of clinical data between patients aged 60 years or older and those younger than 60.
Main Results:
- Elderly patients (>=60 years) constituted 15.2% of M. pneumoniae pneumonia cases.
- Elderly patients had higher rates of comorbidities and additional etiological factors.
- Fever magnitude was lower, and diagnostic sensitivity of CAP guidelines was reduced in the elderly.
Conclusions:
- M. pneumoniae pneumonia is not rare in the elderly, despite lower frequency.
- Clinical presentation and severity are similar between elderly and younger adults, with low mortality.
- Distinguishing M. pneumoniae pneumonia from bacterial pneumonia is challenging in the elderly.
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