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Mycoplasma pneumoniae detections before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: results of a global survey, 2017 to 2021
Patrick M Meyer Sauteur, Michael L Beeton, Søren A Uldum, Nathalie Bossuyt, Melissa Vermeulen, Katherine Loens, Sabine Pereyre, Cécile Bébéar, Darja Keše, Jessica Day, Baharak Afshar, Victoria J Chalker, Gilbert Greub, Ran Nir-Paz, Roger Dumke and ESGMAC–MyCOVID Study Team
Eurosurveillance latest updates, 12.05.2022
Tilføjet 13.05.2022
Background
Mycoplasma pneumoniae respiratory infections are transmitted by aerosol and droplets in close contact.
Aim
We investigated global M. pneumoniae incidence after implementation of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) against COVID-19 in March 2020.
Methods
We surveyed M. pneumoniae detections from laboratories and surveillance systems (national or regional) across the world from 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021 and compared them with cases from corresponding months between 2017 and 2020. Macrolide-resistant M. pneumoniae (MRMp) data were collected from 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2021.
Results
Thirty-seven sites from 21 countries in Europe, Asia, America and Oceania submitted valid datasets (631,104 tests). Among the 30,617 M. pneumoniae detections, 62.39% were based on direct test methods (predominantly PCR), 34.24% on a combination of PCR and serology (no distinction between methods) and 3.37% on serology alone (only IgM considered). In all countries, M. pneumoniae incidence by direct test methods declined significantly after implementation of NPIs with a mean of 1.69% (SD ± 3.30) compared with 8.61% (SD ± 10.62) in previous years (p < 0.01). Detection rates decreased with direct but not with indirect test methods (serology) (–93.51% vs + 18.08%; p < 0.01). Direct detections remained low worldwide throughout April 2020 to March 2021 despite widely differing lockdown or school closure periods. Seven sites (Europe, Asia and America) reported MRMp detections in one of 22 investigated cases in April 2020 to March 2021 and 176 of 762 (23.10%) in previous years (p = 0.04).
Conclusions
This comprehensive collection of M. pneumoniae detections worldwide shows correlation between COVID-19 NPIs and significantly reduced detection numbers.
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Seasonality of respiratory syncytial virus and its association with meteorological factors in 13 European countries, week 40 2010 to week 39 2019
You Li, Xin Wang, Eeva K Broberg, Harry Campbell, Harish Nair and European RSV Surveillance Network
Eurosurveillance latest updates, 21.04.2022
Tilføjet 22.04.2022
Background
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the predominant cause of clinical pneumonia among infants and young children, often peaking during the winter months in temperate regions.
Aim
To describe RSV seasonality in 13 European countries and examine its association with meteorological factors.
Methods
We included weekly RSV seasonality data from 13 European countries between week 40 2010 and week 39 2019. Using local weighted regression method, we modelled weekly RSV activity with meteorological factors using data from the 2010/11 to the 2017/18 season. We predicted the weekly RSV activity of the 2018/19 season across 41 European countries and validated our prediction using empirical data.
Results
All countries had annual wintertime RSV seasons with a longitudinal gradient in RSV onset (Pearson’s correlation coefficient, r = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.60 to 0.80). The RSV season started 3.8 weeks later (95% CI: −0.5 to 8.0) in countries in the eastern vs western parts of Europe, and the duration ranged from 8–18 weeks across seasons and countries. Lower temperature and higher relative humidity were associated with higher RSV activity, with a 14-day lag time. Through external validation, the prediction error in RSV season onset was −2.4 ± 3.2 weeks. Similar longitudinal gradients in RSV onset were predicted by our model for the 2018/19 season (r = 0.45, 95% CI: 0.16 to 0.66).
Conclusion
Meteorological factors, such as temperature and relative humidity, could be used for early warning of RSV season onset. Our findings may inform healthcare services planning and optimisation of RSV immunisation strategies in Europe.
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Can Gram Stains Guide Antibiotics for Pneumonia in Critical Care?
Medscape Infectious Diseases, 9.04.2022
Tilføjet 9.04.2022
Use of Gram stains to select antibiotics for ventilator-associated pneumonia offers similar clinical outcomes as guideline-based broad-spectrum treatment, study reports.
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Staffing Shortages Are Top Patient Safety Concern: Report
Medscape Infectious Diseases, 14.03.2022
Tilføjet 14.03.2022
Also on the top 10 list are healthcare workers' mental health, vaccine errors, non-ventilator-associated pneumonia, emergency use authorization, and telemetry monitoring.
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Pediatric CAP: Short 5-Day Antibiotic Course Beats 10-Day
Medscape Infectious Diseases, 19.01.2022
Tilføjet 19.01.2022
Treatment of uncomplicated pediatric community-acquired pneumonia with a short, 5-day course of antibiotics results in a superior clinical response compared to the standard 10-day course.
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