Epidemiological characteristics of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in hospitalized children in Suzhou from 2007 to 2013 / 国际检验医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate status and epidemiological characteristics of Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) infection in hospitalized children with respiratory tract infections from 2007 to 2013 in Suzhou region .Methods MP was determined by fluores‐cence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(PCR) in 34 332 sputum specimens of hospitalized children with respiratory tract infec‐tions in the Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University from 2007 to 2013 .Results The total detection rate of MP was 19 .01% in children with respiratory tract infections in Suzhou from 2007 to 2013 .Annual MP infection rates from 2007 to 2013 were 5 .45% ,6 .95% ,14 .06% ,18 .51% ,4 .85% ,25 .94% and 28 .68% respectively ,among which the infection rates of MP in 2012 and 2013 were significantly higher than that in other years (P<0 .05) .The infection rates of MP in female children(21 .01% )was higher than that in male children(17 .81% ) ,there was statistically significant difference(P<0 .05) .The infection rates of MP in children <1 years old ,1- <4 years old ,4- <7 years old and 7-14 years old were 8 .88% ,18 .05% ,35 .28% and 52 .39% respec‐tively ,and significant differences of infection rates of MP were observed among the age groups(P<0 .05) .The infection rates of MP in spring ,summer ,autumn and winter were 15 .96% ,28 .38% ,21 .71% and 11 .01% respectively ,and significant differences of in‐fection rates of MP were observed among the seasons(P<0 .05) .Conclusion MP is one of the most common pathogens responsible for respiratory tract infection in children ,which shows gender ,age and season differences in infection rate .Children aged 7 to 14 years old are susceptible to be infected by MP in summer and autumn ,especially in July and August ,so it is necessary to strengthen the prevention of MP infection .