Mycoplasma pneumoniae epidemic in Denmark, October to December, 2023

Euro Surveill. 2024 Jan;29(2):2300707. doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2024.29.2.2300707.

Abstract

We report a surge of patients, especially children and adolescents, with respiratory disease caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae in Denmark since October 2023. While the surge has reached an epidemic level, no impact on hospital capacity has been observed; only 14% (446/3,195) of cases, primarily adults, required hospitalisation. Macrolide resistance was detected in less than 2% of samples tested. Timely monitoring of hospitalisations linked to M. pneumoniae infections has been established to inform the healthcare system, decisionmakers and the public.

Keywords: M. pneumoniae, surveillance; epidemiology; public health; respiratory infection; resurgence.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Child
  • Denmark / epidemiology
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial
  • Humans
  • Macrolides / therapeutic use
  • Mycoplasma pneumoniae* / genetics
  • Pneumonia, Mycoplasma* / drug therapy
  • Pneumonia, Mycoplasma* / epidemiology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Macrolides