Volume 48, Issue 9 pp. 904-911
Original Article: Respiratory Infections

Epidemiology and clinical manifestations of children with macrolide-resistant Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in Taiwan

Ping-Sheng Wu MD

Ping-Sheng Wu MD

Department of Pediatrics, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Taipei Branch, Taipei, Taiwan

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Luan-Yin Chang MD, PhD

Luan-Yin Chang MD, PhD

Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

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Hsiao-Chuan Lin MD

Hsiao-Chuan Lin MD

Department of Pediatrics, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan

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Hsin Chi MD

Hsin Chi MD

Department of Pediatrics, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

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Yu-Chia Hsieh MD, PhD

Yu-Chia Hsieh MD, PhD

Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Taoyuan Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang-Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Taiwan

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Yi-Chuan Huang MD

Yi-Chuan Huang MD

Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang-Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

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Ching-Chuan Liu MD, MPH

Ching-Chuan Liu MD, MPH

Department of Pediatrics, National Cheng-Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan

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Yhu-Chering Huang MD, PhD

Corresponding Author

Yhu-Chering Huang MD, PhD

Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Taoyuan Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang-Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan, Taiwan

Yhu-Chering Huang, Department of Pediatrics, Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital, No. 5, Fu-Hsin Street, Kweishan, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan.

Li-Min Huang, Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital, 7, Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei 100, Taiwan.

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Li-Min Huang MD, PhD

Corresponding Author

Li-Min Huang MD, PhD

Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

Yhu-Chering Huang, Department of Pediatrics, Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital, No. 5, Fu-Hsin Street, Kweishan, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan.

Li-Min Huang, Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital, 7, Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei 100, Taiwan.

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First published: 20 November 2012
Citations: 46

Ping-Sheng Wu and Luan-Yin Chang contributed equally to this work.

Conflict of interest: None.

Abstract

Mycoplasma pneumoniae accounts for 10–30% of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in children. This study reveals the epidemiology and clinical manifestations of children with macrolide-resistant (MLr) M. pneumoniae pneumonia in Taiwan. Respiratory tract specimens were collected from children hospitalized with CAP for evaluation via PCR followed by DNA sequencing for several point mutations related to the MLr character. Of the 412 specimens collected during the study period, 60 (15%) were positive for M. pneumoniae, 14 (23%) of which presented point mutation (all A2063G) in 23S rRNA. Clinical symptoms and chest X-ray findings between the MLs and MLr groups were not significantly different. However, the MLr group had longer mean duration of fever after azithromycin treatment (3.2 days vs. 1.6 days, P = 0.02) and significantly higher percentage of changing antibiotics for suspected MLr strain (42% vs. 13%, P = 0.04). Although 58% of children in the MLr group did not receive effective antibiotics, all children were discharged without sequelae. In conclusion, 15% of CAP in children is caused by M. pneumoniae and the macrolide-resistance rate is 23% in Taiwan. Despite ineffective antibiotics, children with MLr M. pneumoniae pneumonia recover completely. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2013; 48:904–911. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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