title: [Seroprevalence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in Poland in 2008-2013].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a common causative agent of tracheobronchitis and atypical pneumonia, mainly in children and adolescents. The infections are often seen as epidemics occurring in autumn-winter seasons at intervals of 4-7 years. Epidemiological studies showed that M. pneumoniae is responsible for 30% to 40% of all cases of bacterial respiratory infections in Poland. The aim of the study was estimate the seroprevalence of M. pneumoniae in Poland in 2008-2013 in comparing to results obtained in other European countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  The results of diagnostic serological tests (ELISA) in particular immunoglobulin classes for infection with M. pneumoniae performed in 16.825 persons were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were mostly children at the preschool and school age with clinical symptoms of respiratory tract infection. The data were obtained from Bacteriology Department of National Institute of Public Health-National Institute of Hygiene in Warsaw and from 13 Sanitary and Epidemiological Stations through the country which send quarterly or monthly reports.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The serological results showed that in autumn-winter seasons of 2011-2012 the "early antibodies" (IgA and/or IgM) for M. pneumoniae were twice more often diagnosed in sera of patients with respiratory tract infection than in analogous seasons of 2008-2010. The antibodies were detected in 34% and 42% of patients, respectively in third quarter of 2011 and 2012.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Epidemic increase of M. pneumoniae infections in Poland in autumn-winter seasons of 2011-2012 was mainly observed due to diagnosis of the IgA and/or IgM antibodies in serological tests.
authors.forename: Stanisław
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kałużewski
authors.forename: Waldemar
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rastawicki
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D009177:Mycoplasma pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology*; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012698:Serologic Tests
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial