Clinical characteristics, risk factors, and pathogen spectrum of mixed infections in children with <i>Mycoplasma pneumoniae</i> pneumonia: a retrospective cohort study of 1,428 cases from a children’s medical centre in East China

were the predominant viral and bacterial pathogens, respectively, in mixed infections. Mixed infections accounted for a substantial proportion of the MPP cases (63.03%) and were associated with a higher risk of severe disease. It is recommended that active pathogen testing be conducted in children with MPP and that a prediction model incorporating age, season, symptoms, and laboratory indicators be developed for early identification and precise intervention. IMPORTANCE: as the predominant mixed infecting pathogens. These findings suggest that multipathogen testing should be implemented for children with MPP. This research supports the development of a risk prediction model to enable early warning and targeted intervention, thereby optimizing treatment, improving prognosis, and enhancing public health prevention and control strategies.