Rise in Pediatric Mycoplasma pneumoniae Infections in 2024

Recent research highlights a significant surge in cases of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae among children in 2024. According to a study published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, data collected from 42 U.S. children's hospitals revealed that the incidence of M. pneumoniae-associated CAP was markedly higher in 2024 compared to previous years, including 2018 to 2023. Researchers used discharge and diagnostic codes to track infection rates, finding that in 2024, the rate among children aged 18 years or younger increased from 2.1 to 12.5 per 1,000 hospitalizations. Notably, M. pneumoniae was identified in 11.5% of pediatric CAP hospitalizations during this period, with a peak in July 2024 at 53.8%. The highest prevalence of infection was among children aged 6 to 12 years, followed by those aged 2 to 5 and 13 to 18 years. Conversely, infection rates were lowest among infants under one year old. Importantly, the severity of infections in 2024, as measured by hospitalization length and ICU admissions, was not greater than in previous years. Experts emphasize the importance of ongoing surveillance to monitor these periodic increases, enabling better prediction and management of future outbreaks. This rise underscores the need for continuous attention to respiratory infections in children and may inform public health strategies moving forward.