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Updated: Aug 4, 2025
Antigen-Capture Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Specific Detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae
Published on: February 24, 2023
Molecular detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in respiratory samples from hospitalized children
Selene Pury1, María Soledad Álvarez2, María Cecilia García Oro3
1Servicio de Pediatría. Hospital Infantil. Córdoba, Argentina. selenepury@gmail.com.
Introduction:
It is currently reported that Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) infection can occur at a young age. Objective: Describe the findings of the molecular detection of MP in respiratory secretions of patients who required hospitalization due to acute respiratory infection, in a pediatric hospital.
Population And Methods:
Data collection was performed by reviewing medical records and statistical correlation using the chi-square test. 919 patients from one month to fourteen years and eleven months of age who required hospitalization for acute respiratory infection were included. The frequency by age and sex of the isolation of MP was analyzed together with other respiratory pathogens.
Results:
Mycoplasma pneumoniae was the most frequently detected microorganism (30%), followed by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (25.1%). Age and sex did not behave as a predictor of detection for MP. In 47.3% of the patients, MP was isolated together with another pathogen, the most prevalent was RSV 31.3%. Regarding the diagnoses at discharge of the group of patients with isolation of MP and a another microorganism, 50.8% had bronchiolitis, and in the group of patients with identification only of MP this percentage was 32.4%. The difference in the distributions was statistically significant (p <0.05).
Conclusion:
We conclude that Mycoplasma pneumoniae detection is frequent in our environment and occurs in a significant number of cases together with another respiratory pathogen. These findings should prompt further study to determine their clinical relevance.
Insights
Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) was frequently detected in hospitalized children with acute respiratory infections. MP often co-occurred with other pathogens, particularly respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), impacting diagnoses like bronchiolitis.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric infectious diseases
- Molecular diagnostics
- Respiratory infections
Context:
- Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) infections are common in young children.
- Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) necessitate hospitalization in pediatric populations.
- Understanding the prevalence and co-detection of respiratory pathogens is crucial for effective management.
Purpose:
- To describe the findings of molecular detection of MP in respiratory secretions of hospitalized pediatric patients with ARI.
- To analyze the frequency of MP isolation in relation to age, sex, and co-infection with other respiratory pathogens.
Summary:
- Molecular detection identified Mycoplasma pneumoniae as the most frequent microorganism (30%) in 919 hospitalized children with ARI.
- Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was the second most common pathogen (25.1%).
- MP was frequently detected alongside other pathogens (47.3%), most commonly RSV (31.3%), with significant differences in discharge diagnoses such as bronchiolitis.
Impact:
- Highlights the significant prevalence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in hospitalized pediatric patients with respiratory infections.
- Underscores the frequent co-occurrence of MP with other respiratory pathogens, suggesting complex clinical presentations.
- Emphasizes the need for further research into the clinical relevance of these co-infections in pediatric respiratory illnesses.
