Mycoplasma pneumoniae, a bacteria without a cell wall, causes respiratory infections with symptoms like cough and fever. Insensitive to common antibiotics and diagnosed mainly by PCR, this bacteria is experiencing a resurgence in France, affecting communities and sometimes requiring hospitalization. Prevention remains essential.
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Mycoplasma pneumoniae is an atypical bacterium, without cell wall, responsible for respiratory infections affecting the upper and lower tracts, manifested by nasopharyngitis, tracheobronchitis, acute bronchitis and pneumonia. It is insensitive to ß-lactam antibiotics such as penicillin and invisible to Gram stain. This bacteria causes symptoms such as cough and fever and is transmitted through respiratory droplets. Its diagnosis is made by PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction), serological tests and radiography. Although recovery is often spontaneous, prevention remains crucial, implying respect for barrier gestures.
What is the situation in France?
Recently, in France, there has been a notable increase in respiratory infections attributed to Mycoplasma pneumoniae, particularly marked during week 47. This increase is evident both within communities, with a notable prevalence in schools. Cases requiring hospitalization in intensive care have been reported in several French regions.
Although France does not yet benefit from a system dedicated to the notification of cases of Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Public Health France is conducting an in-depth analysis of the situation by exploiting various types of data, including clinical, microbiological and epidemiological. Emergency services and the SOS Médecins network have reported an increase in pneumonia, especially among children and young adults. In addition, a notable increase in the detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniaemainly by PCR, was recorded in hospital laboratories.
