Impact of COVID-19 on the epidemiological features of mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in children with community-acquired pneumonia in Ganzhou, China

Background: (MP). However, the impact of MP infection on children with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in Ganzhou, China, remains unclear. This study aims to investigate the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the epidemiology and clinical outcomes of MP infection among hospitalized pediatric CAP patients in Ganzhou, China. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 27,369 hospitalized pediatric CAP patients (2017-2024), comparing MP positivity, seasonality, age distribution, and severity across pre-pandemic, NPIs, and post-NPIs phases. Results: < 0.001). Notably, both the median hospitalization duration and the rate of mechanical ventilation for severe pneumonia were significantly higher in Phase I than in Phases II and III. Conclusion: After the relaxation of NPIs, pediatric MP infections among hospitalized pediatric CAP patients in Ganzhou not only rebounded strongly but also exhibited a shift in epidemic peaks toward spring, alongside a notable change in susceptibility among younger children.