Premium
Mycoplasma pneumoniae detection in children with respiratory tract infections and influence on management – a retrospective cohort study in Switzerland
Author(s) -
Dierig Alexa,
Hirsch Hans Hellmuth,
Decker MarieLuise,
Bielicki Julia Anna,
Heininger Ulrich,
Ritz Nicole
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
acta paediatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/apa.14891
Subject(s) - medicine , mycoplasma pneumoniae , retrospective cohort study , respiratory tract infections , cohort , medical prescription , cohort study , pneumonia , respiratory system , pharmacology
Aim To evaluate the frequency of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in nasopharyngeal specimens from children with respiratory tract infections (RTIs) and to detail clinical characteristics and management. Methods The study was designed as a retrospective cohort study. All children with RTI and nucleic acid amplification testing from nasopharyngeal specimens were analysed. Clinical data were extracted from electronic health records for all M. pneumoniae‐ positive cases. Stored samples of cases and a random selection of matched controls were retested using a M. pneumoniae‐specific nucleic acid amplification test. Results Of 4460 children, 70 (1.6%) were positive for M. pneumoniae with a median age of 6.4 (IQR: 2.7–9.7). M. pneumoniae was the only organism identified in 50/64 (78%) cases. Macrolide treatment was prescribed in 52/65 (80%); prescription was empirical in 29/52 (56%) and targeted in 23/52 (44%) with no difference regarding patient age, oxygen requirement or duration of hospitalisation. Conclusion The prevalence of M. pneumoniae in nasopharyngeal specimens of children with RTI was low. The detection of M. pneumoniae influenced antibiotic prescriptions, but the benefit of early empirical versus targeted treatment remains unclear.