Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 3, 2026

Antigen-Capture Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Specific Detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae
06:04

Antigen-Capture Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Specific Detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Published on: February 24, 2023

2.9K

Mycoplasma pneumoniae in pediatric patients: Do macrolide-resistance and/or delayed treatment matter?

Tzu-I Yang1, Tu-Hsuan Chang2, Chun-Yi Lu1

  • 1Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.

Journal of Microbiology, Immunology, and Infection = Wei Mian Yu Gan Ran Za Zhi
|October 21, 2018
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Macrolide resistance in Mycoplasma pneumoniae is common in children and linked to severe pneumonia. Early diagnosis and effective antibiotic treatment are crucial for better outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Respiratory Medicine
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a frequent cause of childhood pneumonia, particularly after pneumococcal conjugate vaccine introduction.
  • While often self-limiting, severe disease and macrolide resistance are growing concerns.
  • Understanding factors influencing outcomes is critical in the post-vaccination era.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of macrolide resistance and delayed treatment on clinical outcomes in pediatric Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections.
  • To analyze the prevalence of macrolide resistance and associated clinical characteristics.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of pediatric patients with PCR-confirmed Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection (2010-2017).
  • Evaluation of clinical characteristics, bacterial load, macrolide resistance, and treatment outcomes.
  • Statistical analysis to determine associations between resistance, delayed treatment, and disease severity.

Main Results:

  • 95% of positive PCR cases were diagnosed as pneumonia; 17% had extrapulmonary complications, 1.5% respiratory failure.
  • Delayed treatment correlated with prolonged fever, fulminant disease, and extrapulmonary issues (p < 0.05).
  • Macrolide resistance occurred in 24% of cases, linked to longer fever duration, hospital stay, consolidation, and liver function abnormalities (P < 0.05).

Conclusions:

  • Macrolide resistance is prevalent and may contribute to delayed appropriate antibiotic therapy.
  • Delayed treatment, regardless of resistance, is associated with more severe and prolonged illness.
  • Early Mycoplasma pneumoniae diagnosis and awareness of macrolide resistance are key for timely, effective treatment and improved patient outcomes.
Keywords:
Mycoplasma pneumoniaeResistanceTreatment

More Related Videos

Whole-body PET/MRI of Pediatric Patients: The Details That Matter10:02

Whole-body PET/MRI of Pediatric Patients: The Details That Matter

Published on: December 19, 2017

15.3K
Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment as a Useful Adjunctive Tool for Pneumonia13:27

Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment as a Useful Adjunctive Tool for Pneumonia

Published on: May 6, 2014

49.0K

Related Concept Videos

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion01:26

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...
262
Treatment Resistant Cancers02:56

Treatment Resistant Cancers

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. A cancer cell is genetically unstable and hence can mutate faster. They can also modify their microenvironment and escape immune surveillance. The difficulties in treating cancer are further compounded by the emergence of rapid resistance to anticancer drugs. The most common ways to attain resistance in cancer cells include alteration in drug transport and metabolism, modification of drug target, elevated DNA damage response, or...
3.8K
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution01:17

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution

Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight,...
304
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses...
226
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
296
Classifying Matter by State02:49

Classifying Matter by State

Chemistry is the study of matter and the changes it undergoes. Matter is anything that has mass and occupies space. Matter is all around us; the air, water, soil, mountains, even our bodies are all examples of matter. Matter is divided into three states — solid, liquid, and gas — that are commonly found on earth. The fourth state of matter, plasma, occurs naturally in the interiors of stars. 
103.4K