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Antigen-Capture Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Specific Detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae
Published on: February 24, 2023
Recent acute reduction in macrolide-resistant Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections among Japanese children
Yoshitaka Nakamura1, Tomohiro Oishi2, Kazunari Kaneko3
1Department of Pediatrics, Kansai Medical School, Osaka, Japan; Department of Pediatrics, Kawasaki Medical School, Okayama, Japan.
Introduction:
Mycoplasma pneumoniae contributes to numerous pneumonia cases among children and young adults. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence of M. pneumoniae infections among Japanese children, occurring since 2008.
Methods:
Nasopharyngeal swab specimens were obtained from all cases, following which real-time PCR was performed to identify M. pneumoniae. Further, the p1 genotypes of isolates were determined using the PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism typing method.
Results:
The annual rate of macrolide-resistant M. pneumoniae (MRMP) infections peaked at 81.8% in 2012 and decreased annually until 2015. Although the infection rate increased to 65.3% in 2016, it decreased again to 14.3% in 2018. Although >90% of isolates harbored the type 1 genotype until 2012, this rate decreased, and approximately 80% harbored p1 genotypes other than type 1 in 2018. Furthermore, the occurrence rate of MRMP among the type 1 isolates was very high (82.4%), whereas that among p1 genotypes other than type 1 was very low (6.5%).
Conclusions:
MRMP occurrence potentially decreased owing to changes in not only antibiotic usage but also in the distribution of p1 genotype among isolates.
Insights
Macrolide-resistant Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MRMP) infections in Japanese children decreased significantly after 2012. This decline is linked to shifts in antibiotic use and the prevalence of specific M. pneumoniae p1 genotypes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a common cause of pneumonia in children and young adults.
- Understanding its prevalence and resistance patterns is crucial for public health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections in Japanese children since 2008.
- To analyze trends in macrolide-resistant M. pneumoniae (MRMP) and p1 genotypes.
Main Methods:
- Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from pediatric cases.
- Real-time PCR was used for M. pneumoniae identification.
- PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism typing determined p1 genotypes.
Main Results:
- MRMP infection rates peaked at 81.8% in 2012, then declined to 14.3% by 2018.
- The dominant p1 genotype shifted from type 1 to other types after 2012.
- MRMP prevalence was significantly higher in type 1 isolates (82.4%) compared to other genotypes (6.5%).
Conclusions:
- The decrease in MRMP occurrence may be attributed to changes in antibiotic prescribing practices.
- Shifts in the distribution of M. pneumoniae p1 genotypes also likely contributed to the observed decline in resistance.
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