Clinical Profile of Patients Admitted with Mycoplasma Pneumonia Infection in a Tertiary Care Centre

INTRODUCTION: Mycoplasma pneumonia is a common cause of atypical pneumonia in humans. Typically termed as ‘Walking pneumonia’, infected patients do not show severe symptoms and generally have a benign course of illness(1). CDC has reported a recent surge in Mycoplasma infection in 2024 in young adults and children(2). Similar trend was noted in our hospital with many patients being admitted with M. pneumonia infection and a fraction of them requiring ICU. This study was conducted to determine the clinical profile of patients admitted with Mycoplasma infection in our hospital between January 2023 and November 2024. OBJECTIVES: To determine the clinical profile of patients admitted with Mycoplasma pneumonia infection in our hospital between January 2023 and November 2024. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A Retrospective study was conducted on all patients admitted with pneumonia due to Mycoplasma in our hospital. Patients who had evidence of Mycoplasma infection, either BAL PCR positive or IgM Mycoplasma positive, were included in the study. Their details were collected from records and data was analysed using SPSS software. RESULTS: 45 patients were admitted with pneumonia due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae during the study period. Only 2 (4.4%) patients had proven Mycoplasma infection in 2023 whereas 43 (95.6%) patients had Mycoplasma infection till November 2024. 38 (84.4%) of these patients got admitted between August 2024 and November 2024. Majority (64.4%) of those admitted were females. Mean age of the study population was 31.7±12.8 years. 39 patients (86.7%) didn't have any comorbidities. Fever (86.7%) and cough (95.6%) were the major presenting symptoms. 4 patients (8.8%) had gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, loose stools. The most common extrapulmonary manifestation was transaminitis (15.6%). 2 (4.4%) patients developed hemolytic anemia secondary to Mycoplasma infection. BAL biofire yielded Mycoplasma in 43 patients (95.6%) whereas IgM Mycoplasma was positive in the remaining 2 (4.4%). BAL biofire showed Mycoplasma alone in 34 patients (79.1%) whereas 9 patients (20.9%) had co-infection with other organisms. 6 patients (13.8%) had viral co-infection, 2 patients (4.6%) had bacterial co-infection and 1 patient (2.3%) had both viral and bacterial co-infection. 8 patients (17.8%) required ICU admission. 2 patients (4.4%) were intubated, 2 patients (4.4%) required HFNC and 4 patients were on oxygen support by nasal prong or face mask during ICU stay. Mycoplasma could not be isolated by culture (blood or sputum) from any of these patients. Dense consolidatory pattern was seen in 11 patients (24.4%). Respiratory failure (31.1%) was the major complication observed. Pleural effusion was seen in 5 patients (11.1%). Only 1 patient (2.2%) developed segmental pulmonary embolism and pleural effusion with Mycoplasma PCR positivity requiring drainage. Mean duration of hospital stay was 8.18±3.25 days. Overall mortality was 2.3%. CONCLUSION: Our study shows an increasing trend in Mycoplasma infection during past few months. This is in concordance with the data released from CDC. Though the overall mortality was low, the number of patients requiring in-patient care has significantly increased compared to last year. This could probably indicate emergence of new resistant or virulent strains and needs further genotypical studies.