Molecular Detection and Characterization of Mycoplasma pneumoniae Among Patients Hospitalized With Community-Acquired Pneumonia in the United States.
Background.  Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a common cause of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). The molecular characteristics of M pneumoniae detected in patients hospitalized with CAP in the United States are poorly described. Methods.  We performed molecular characterization of M pneumoniae in nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal swabs from children and adults hospitalized with CAP in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Etiology of Pneumonia in the Community (EPIC) study, including P1 typing, multilocus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis (MLVA), and macrolide susceptibility genotyping. Results.  Of 216 M pneumoniae polymerase chain reaction-positive specimens, 40 (18.5%) were obtained from adults and 176 (81.5%) from children. P1 type distribution differed between adults (64% type 1 and 36% type 2) and children (84% type 1, 13% type 2, and 3% variant) (P < .05) and among sites (P < .01). Significant differences in the proportions of MLVA types 4/5/7/2 and 3/5/6/2 were also observed by age group (P < .01) and site (P < .01). A macrolide-resistant genotype was identified in 7 (3.5%) specimens, 5 of which were from patients who had recently received macrolide therapy. No significant differences in clinical characteristics were identified among patients with various strain types or between macrolide-resistant and -sensitive M pneumoniae infections. Conclusions.  The P1 type 1 genotype and MLVA type 4/5/7/2 predominated, but there were differences between children and adults and among sites. Macrolide resistance was rare. Differences in strain types did not appear to be associated with differences in clinical outcomes. Whole genome sequencing of M pneumoniae may help identify better ways to characterize strains.
Division of Bacterial Diseases.
Maureen H
MH
Diaz
Division of Bacterial Diseases.
Alvaro J
AJ
Benitez
Division of Bacterial Diseases.
Kristen E
KE
Cross
Division of Bacterial Diseases.
Lauri A
LA
Hicks
Division of Bacterial Diseases.
Preeta
P
Kutty
Influenza Division , Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Atlanta, Georgia.
Anna M
AM
Bramley
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine , Nashville, Tennessee.
James D
JD
Chappell
University of Utah Health Sciences Center , Salt Lake City.
Weston
W
Hymas
Le Bonheur Children's Hospital ; University of Tennessee Health Science Center.
Anami
A
Patel
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine , Chicago, Illinois.
Chao
C
Qi
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine , Nashville, Tennessee ; Vanderbilt Vaccine Research Program , Nashville.
Derek J
DJ
Williams
Le Bonheur Children's Hospital ; University of Tennessee Health Science Center.
Sandra R
SR
Arnold
University of Utah Health Sciences Center , Salt Lake City.
Krow
K
Ampofo
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine , Nashville, Tennessee.
Wesley H
WH
Self
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine , Nashville, Tennessee.
Carlos G
CG
Grijalva
Emory University School of Medicine , Atlanta, Georgia.
Evan J
EJ
Anderson
Le Bonheur Children's Hospital ; University of Tennessee Health Science Center ; St. Jude Children's Research Hospital , Memphis, Tennessee.
Jonathan A
JA
McCullers
University of Utah Health Sciences Center , Salt Lake City.
Andrew T
AT
Pavia
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine , Chicago, Illinois.
Richard G
RG
Wunderink
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine , Nashville, Tennessee ; Vanderbilt Vaccine Research Program , Nashville.
Kathryn M
KM
Edwards
Influenza Division , Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , Atlanta, Georgia.
Seema
S
Jain
Division of Bacterial Diseases.
Jonas M
JM
Winchell
Mycoplasma pneumonia; community-acquired pneumonia; macrolide resistance; molecular epidemiology