Analysis of the characteristics of mixed infections with Mycoplasma pneumoniae in children

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 15; no. 1; pp. 9414 - 7
• Main Authors: Yuan, Li, Mingyue, Diao, Zhou, Lili
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 19.03.2025; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 631/326; 692/308; 692/699; Adolescent; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Bacteria; Child; Child, Preschool; Children; Co-infection; Coinfection - epidemiology; Coinfection - microbiology; Coinfection - virology; Disease resistance; Drug resistance; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Female; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Infant; Infections; Macrolides - therapeutic use; Male; Mucus; multidisciplinary; Mycoplasma pneumoniae; Mycoplasma pneumoniae - drug effects; Mycoplasma pneumoniae - isolation & purification; Mycoplasma pneumoniae - pathogenicity; Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia; Pathogens; Pneumonia; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma - drug therapy; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma - epidemiology; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma - microbiology; Rhinovirus; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); pneumonia; Co-infection; Children; Mycoplasma pneumoniae; Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-94292-8

353 hospitalized children diagnosed with  Mycoplasma pneumoniae  (MP) pneumonia were included in the study. They were divided into MP co-infection group and MP single infection group. 143 (40.5%) of the enrolled children had MP co-infections. The most common co-infecting pathogen was Rhinovirus (30.8%). Among the MP co-infections, 82 cases (57.3%) involved one pathogen, 44 cases (30.7%) involved two pathogens, 12 cases (8.4%) involved three pathogens, 4 cases (2.8%) involved four pathogens, and 1 case (0.7%) involved five pathogens. Significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of severe MP pneumonia, macrolide resistance, bronchial mucus plug, and hormone use, with  P -values of 0.039, 0.000, 0.000, and 0.035. The MP mixed virus or bacteria infection group was more likely to develop drug resistance compared to the mixed virus and bacteria group ( P  = 0.007 and  P  = 0.046). The MP mixed virus and bacteria group was more likely to develop severe pneumonia compared to the mixed virus or bacteria infection group ( P  = 0.032 and  P  = 0.017). In conclusion, MP was most commonly co-infected with Rhinovirus. Children with MP co-infections tend to exhibit higher rates of macrolide resistance, require more frequent use of hormones, and are more likely to develop severe pneumonia and bronchial mucus plug.