The epidemiology and clinical features of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in neonates.
OBJECTIVE
This retrospective study was aimed to explore the epidemiological and clinical profiles of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in neonates.


METHODS
From 2011 to 2014, 1322 hospitalized neonates with lower respiratory tract infections were screened for Mycoplasma pneumoniae by detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae antibodies using Serion ELISA classic Mycoplasma pneumoniae kits.


RESULTS
Mycoplasma pneumoniae was identified in 89 (6.7%) patients. The age ranged from 1 day to 28 days with a median of 22 days. The male to female ratio was 1.15:1. Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection peaked in spring (from March through May) and winter (from December through February). Compared with non-Mycoplasma pneumoniae infected neonates, those with Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection were older, presented fever more frequently, and had less tachypnea.


CONCLUSIONS
Mycoplasma pneumoniae could be an important etiologic agent for respiratory tract infection in neonates. In neonates Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection was usually associated with older age, presence of fever, and less tachypnea. Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in neonates tends to be a mild process.
Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Suzhou, China.
Feng
F
Huang
Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Department of Neonatology, Suzhou, China.
Lianghua
L
Lu
Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Suzhou, China.
Wujun
W
Jiang
Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Suzhou, China. Electronic address: yyd3060@126.com.
Yongdong
Y
Yan
Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Suzhou, China.
Wei
W
Ji
Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Department of Clinical Lab, Suzhou, China.
Bin
B
Yang
Children's Hospital of Soochow University, Department of Neonatology, Suzhou, China.
Shenglin
S
Yu
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009177:Mycoplasma pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology*; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012621:Seasons
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M
Lower respiratory tract infection; Mycoplasma pneumoniae; Neonate