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. 2020 Jan;25(2):1900112.
doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2020.25.2.1900112.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections, 11 countries in Europe and Israel, 2011 to 2016

Michael L Beeton  1 , Xu-Sheng Zhang  2 , Søren A Uldum  3 , Cécile Bébéar  4 , Roger Dumke  5 , Karolina Gullsby  6 , Margareta Ieven  7 , Katherine Loens  7 , Ran Nir-Paz  8 , Sabine Pereyre  4 , O Brad Spiller  9 , Victoria J Chalker  2 ; ESCMID Study Group for Mycoplasma and Chlamydia Infections (ESGMAC) Mycoplasma pneumoniae subgroup  10 ; ESCMID Study Group for Mycoplasma and Chlamydia Infections (ESGMAC) Mycoplasma pneumoniae subgroup members not listed as an individual author
Collaborators, Affiliations

Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections, 11 countries in Europe and Israel, 2011 to 2016

Michael L Beeton et al. Euro Surveill. 2020 Jan.

Abstract

BackgroundMycoplasma pneumoniae is a leading cause of community-acquired pneumonia, with large epidemics previously described to occur every 4 to 7 years.AimTo better understand the diagnostic methods used to detect M. pneumoniae; to better understand M. pneumoniae testing and surveillance in use; to identify epidemics; to determine detection number per age group, age demographics for positive detections, concurrence of epidemics and annual peaks across geographical areas; and to determine the effect of geographical location on the timing of epidemics.MethodsA questionnaire was sent in May 2016 to Mycoplasma experts with national or regional responsibility within the ESCMID Study Group for Mycoplasma and Chlamydia Infections in 17 countries across Europe and Israel, retrospectively requesting details on M. pneumoniae-positive samples from January 2011 to April 2016. The Moving Epidemic Method was used to determine epidemic periods and effect of country latitude across the countries for the five periods under investigation.ResultsRepresentatives from 12 countries provided data on M. pneumoniae infections, accounting for 95,666 positive samples. Two laboratories initiated routine macrolide resistance testing since 2013. Between 2011 and 2016, three epidemics were identified: 2011/12, 2014/15 and 2015/16. The distribution of patient ages for M. pneumoniae-positive samples showed three patterns. During epidemic years, an association between country latitude and calendar week when epidemic periods began was noted.ConclusionsAn association between epidemics and latitude was observed. Differences were noted in the age distribution of positive cases and detection methods used and practice. A lack of macrolide resistance monitoring was noted.

Keywords: Mycoplasma pneumoniae; diagnostics; epidemiology; surveillance.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Four weekly moving average data on Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections by detection methods, 11 countries in Europe and Israel, 2011–2016
Figure 2
Figure 2
Analysis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae epidemic periods using the Moving Epidemic Method, 11 countries in Europe and Israel, 2011–2016
Figure 3
Figure 3
Number of Mycoplasma pneumoniae detections by age group, 10 countries in Europea and Israel, 2011–2016 (n = 70,191)
Figure 4
Figure 4
Correlation between country latitude and epidemic week for Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections, 7 European countries and Israel, epidemic periods 2011/12, 2014/15 and 2015/16
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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