Analysis of mycoplasma pneumoniae infection among children with respiratory tract infections in hospital in Chengdu from 2014 to 2020

BACKGROUND: Respiratory tract infection (RTIs) is one of common diseases among the children. In recent years, the incidence of mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae) infection rate has been increasing, which cause respiratory tract infection. This study sought to analyze the epidemiological characteristics of M. pneumoniae hospitalized children with RTIs to provide a theoretical basis for clinical diagnosis and treatments in Chengdu, China. METHODS: The data of 22,882 cases of children who had been hospitalized for RTIs were collected. M. pneumoniae immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibody was detected using the indirect immunofluorescence method and passive agglutination method. The demographic features of patients, clinical diagnoses and laboratory data were also analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 4,213 children tested positive for M. pneumoniae. The total positive rate was 18.41% (18.30% for males and 22.72% for females). Female children had statistically significant higher positive rates than male children (χ(2)=198.078, P<0.01). The positive rates of M. pneumoniae differed significantly among children of different ages (F=162.7532, P<0.01). The incidence rate of M. pneumoniae in 2017 and 2019 was significantly higher than the average (F=538.95, P<0.01). There were higher M. pneumoniae positive rates from April to May, and September to October (P<0.05) in 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. There was no correlation between M. pneumoniae infection and temperature and humidity (P>0.05). There was negative correlation with PM(2.5) (particulate matter in the air <2.5 µm) (R=−0.293, P<0.01) and PM(10) (particulate matter in the air <10 µm). (R=−0.285, P<0.01). There were significant differences in the constituent ratios of cases of M. pneumoniae infection between in 2020 and other years (F=159.35, P<0.01). Bronchopneumonia accounted for the highest proportion of cases, followed by acute bronchitis and the exacerbation of asthma in 2020. CONCLUSIONS: The epidemiological distribution of M. pneumoniae in children with RTIs in Chengdu was found to be related to gender, age, year and month; however, no relationship was found to temperature and humidity. There was a higher M. pneumoniae positive rate in children with bronchial pneumonia and asthma in cases. The prevention measures used to control Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) also effectively controlled the M. pneumoniae infection rate.