Epidemiology and molecular identification of mycoplasma pneumoniae associated with respiratory infections in Zhejiang province, China, 2008‐2017

INTRODUCTION: Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a common cause of respiratory infections in humans. The aim of this study was to investigate the infection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) in patients with acute respiratory tract infections in Zhejiang Province from 2008 to 2017, and to provide evidence for the early diagnosis and prevention of MP pneumonia. METHODS: MP-DNA was detected in nasopharyngeal swabs of patients with acute respiratory tract infection by real-time fluorescent PCR (TaqMan probe). Statistical analysis and epidemiological investigation were carried out on the test results. RESULTS: There were 10 296 patients with acute respiratory tract infection in Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital from 2008 to 2017, including 4387 females and 5909 males. A total of 1251 MP-DNA-positive patients were detected, with a total positive rate of 12.2% (1251/10296). Among 1251 patients with MP infection, 571 were female positive, with an average positive rate of 13.0% (571/4387), and 680 were male positive, with a positive rate of 11.5% (680/5909). From 2008 to 2017, the positive rates were 22.8% (33 cases), 20.9% (211 cases), 20.9% (350 cases), 5.5% (70 cases), 11.7% (136 cases), 15.2% (190 cases), 7.8% (94 cases), 5.9% (62 cases), 7.8% (56 cases), and 6.0% (49 cases), respectively. Of 1251 MP-DNA-positive patients, 1243 (99.4%) were younger than 18 years old. CONCLUSIONS: Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection mainly occurs from late summer to autumn and in the age below 18 years, suggesting that early diagnosis and prevention of MP infection in adolescents should be emphasized.