Detection of Atypical Bacteria, Including Mycoplasma Pneumoniae, British Columbia, Canada, 2013-2023

Global reports suggest heightened Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Mp) activity during the fall of 2023. However, it is unclear how testing strategy changes and preventative measures implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic influenced these conclusions. The objective of this study was to summarize the effects of implementing a new respiratory testing method (Luminex NxTAG Respiratory Pathogen Panel [RPP]) on the rate of detection of three types of atypical bacteria (AB) (Mp, Legionella pneumophila [Lp], and Chlamydophila pneumoniae [Cp]) in British Columbia (BC), as well as to summarize case detections throughout the province during and after the COVID-19 pandemic to determine if there were emerging concerns regarding Mp infections in BC as seen in other jurisdictions.

We analyzed 2013-2023 laboratory testing data from the provincial lab in BC, divided into periods before syndromic testing, after syndromic testing was implemented (via xTAG RPP), during the COVID-19 pandemic, and after the pandemic.

Following introduction of the Luminex NxTAG RPP, detection of Mp and Cp cases increased 11-fold and 4-fold, respectively, while Lp detection was not significantly affected. Relatively few cases of Mp were recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic, although following relaxation of COVID-19 pandemic mitigation measures, Mp resurgent activity was observed that remained within expected levels.

Detection of AB in BC increased following implementation of the Luminex NxTAG RPP, decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic, and returned to seasonal circulation after the pandemic.