Epidemiological changes of Mycoplasma pneumoniae among children before, during, and post the COVID-19 pandemic in Henan, China, from 2017 to 2024

ABSTRACT Studies characterizing the epidemic of Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae) in Henan Province are scarce. Our research investigated the epidemiological changes of M. pneumoniae and macrolide-resistant mutations of M. pneumoniae (MRMP) among children under 18 years from January 2017 to Dece...

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Main Authors: Jiahui Qi, Hongwei Li, Hao Li, Zhuyuan Wang, Shuo Zhang, Xiangying Meng, Xin Zhao, Enwu Yuan, Linlin Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Society for Microbiology 2025-07-01
Series:Microbiology Spectrum
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Online Access:https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.03121-24
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author Jiahui Qi
Hongwei Li
Hao Li
Zhuyuan Wang
Shuo Zhang
Xiangying Meng
Xin Zhao
Enwu Yuan
Linlin Zhang
author_facet Jiahui Qi
Hongwei Li
Hao Li
Zhuyuan Wang
Shuo Zhang
Xiangying Meng
Xin Zhao
Enwu Yuan
Linlin Zhang
author_sort Jiahui Qi
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Studies characterizing the epidemic of Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae) in Henan Province are scarce. Our research investigated the epidemiological changes of M. pneumoniae and macrolide-resistant mutations of M. pneumoniae (MRMP) among children under 18 years from January 2017 to December 2024. The study was categorized into three stages based on the COVID-19 timeline (pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic) to analyze the impact of nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) on M. pneumoniae in Henan Province. Among 27,056 children, 28.36% tested positive for M. pneumoniae, with the lowest positivity rate in 2022 (12.56%) and the highest in 2023 (35.01%). The positivity rate was greatest in the 6–17 years (41.08%) and lowest in ≤1 year (12.38%). Epidemic seasons were predominantly in autumn (36.71%) and winter (23.12%). The MRMP rate increased from 36.68% in 2018 to 87.16% in 2023, averaging 71.00%. The positivity rate of M. pneumoniae was 26.12% during the pre-pandemic stage, significantly declined during the pandemic stage (14.97%), and rebounded to a high level in the post-pandemic stage (31.88%). The MRMP rate also increased across the three stages: 46.74%, 72.63%, and 83.31%, respectively. These results indicate a significant influence of COVID-19 NPIs on the transmission of M. pneumoniae and MRMP.IMPORTANCEM. pneumoniae is a significant cause of community-acquired pneumonia with a high MRMP rate in China. Various NPIs in the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted the prevalence of M. pneumoniae and could have important implications for M. pneumoniae prevention and control strategies. Our study documented M. pneumoniae and MRMP detection before, during, and post the COVID-19 pandemic in Henan, China, from 2017 to 2024, aiming to investigate the impact of NPIs on M. pneumoniae transmission and continue to monitor the evolution of the epidemiological characteristics of M. pneumoniae infection after the pandemic when restrictive measures are no longer needed.
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spelling doaj-art-01c2d5b4da2b4d8080b029b592943e3c2025-08-20T02:41:58ZengAmerican Society for MicrobiologyMicrobiology Spectrum2165-04972025-07-0113710.1128/spectrum.03121-24Epidemiological changes of Mycoplasma pneumoniae among children before, during, and post the COVID-19 pandemic in Henan, China, from 2017 to 2024Jiahui Qi0Hongwei Li1Hao Li2Zhuyuan Wang3Shuo Zhang4Xiangying Meng5Xin Zhao6Enwu Yuan7Linlin Zhang8Department of Laboratory Medicine, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, ChinaDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, ChinaDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, ChinaDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, ChinaDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, ChinaDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, ChinaTianjian Laboratory of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Advanced Biomedical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, ChinaDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, ChinaDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, ChinaABSTRACT Studies characterizing the epidemic of Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae) in Henan Province are scarce. Our research investigated the epidemiological changes of M. pneumoniae and macrolide-resistant mutations of M. pneumoniae (MRMP) among children under 18 years from January 2017 to December 2024. The study was categorized into three stages based on the COVID-19 timeline (pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic) to analyze the impact of nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) on M. pneumoniae in Henan Province. Among 27,056 children, 28.36% tested positive for M. pneumoniae, with the lowest positivity rate in 2022 (12.56%) and the highest in 2023 (35.01%). The positivity rate was greatest in the 6–17 years (41.08%) and lowest in ≤1 year (12.38%). Epidemic seasons were predominantly in autumn (36.71%) and winter (23.12%). The MRMP rate increased from 36.68% in 2018 to 87.16% in 2023, averaging 71.00%. The positivity rate of M. pneumoniae was 26.12% during the pre-pandemic stage, significantly declined during the pandemic stage (14.97%), and rebounded to a high level in the post-pandemic stage (31.88%). The MRMP rate also increased across the three stages: 46.74%, 72.63%, and 83.31%, respectively. These results indicate a significant influence of COVID-19 NPIs on the transmission of M. pneumoniae and MRMP.IMPORTANCEM. pneumoniae is a significant cause of community-acquired pneumonia with a high MRMP rate in China. Various NPIs in the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted the prevalence of M. pneumoniae and could have important implications for M. pneumoniae prevention and control strategies. Our study documented M. pneumoniae and MRMP detection before, during, and post the COVID-19 pandemic in Henan, China, from 2017 to 2024, aiming to investigate the impact of NPIs on M. pneumoniae transmission and continue to monitor the evolution of the epidemiological characteristics of M. pneumoniae infection after the pandemic when restrictive measures are no longer needed.https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.03121-24Mycoplasma pneumoniaechildrenCOVID-19macrolide-resistant mutations of M. pneumoniaenonpharmaceutical interventions
spellingShingle Jiahui Qi
Hongwei Li
Hao Li
Zhuyuan Wang
Shuo Zhang
Xiangying Meng
Xin Zhao
Enwu Yuan
Linlin Zhang
Epidemiological changes of Mycoplasma pneumoniae among children before, during, and post the COVID-19 pandemic in Henan, China, from 2017 to 2024
Microbiology Spectrum
Mycoplasma pneumoniae
children
COVID-19
macrolide-resistant mutations of M. pneumoniae
nonpharmaceutical interventions
title Epidemiological changes of Mycoplasma pneumoniae among children before, during, and post the COVID-19 pandemic in Henan, China, from 2017 to 2024
title_full Epidemiological changes of Mycoplasma pneumoniae among children before, during, and post the COVID-19 pandemic in Henan, China, from 2017 to 2024
title_fullStr Epidemiological changes of Mycoplasma pneumoniae among children before, during, and post the COVID-19 pandemic in Henan, China, from 2017 to 2024
title_full_unstemmed Epidemiological changes of Mycoplasma pneumoniae among children before, during, and post the COVID-19 pandemic in Henan, China, from 2017 to 2024
title_short Epidemiological changes of Mycoplasma pneumoniae among children before, during, and post the COVID-19 pandemic in Henan, China, from 2017 to 2024
title_sort epidemiological changes of mycoplasma pneumoniae among children before during and post the covid 19 pandemic in henan china from 2017 to 2024
topic Mycoplasma pneumoniae
children
COVID-19
macrolide-resistant mutations of M. pneumoniae
nonpharmaceutical interventions
url https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.03121-24
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