01 August 2008
Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in the elderly
Naoyuki MiyashitaABCDEFG, Kazunobu OuchiEFG, Kozo KawasakiCDF, Keiko OdaCDF, Yasuhiro KawaiCDF, Hiroki ShimizuBCD, Yoshihiro KobashiBCD, Mikio OkaEFGMed Sci Monit 2008; 14(8): CR387-391 :: ID: 865773
Abstract
Background
Mycoplasma pneumoniae is one of the most common causes of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). This infection occurs predominantly in school-aged children and younger adults, but may also occur in the elderly.
Material and Method
To investigate the frequency and clinical characteristics of M. pneumoniae pneumonia in the elderly, we analyzed 210 hospitalized patients with M. pneumoniae pneumonia over a 15-year period.
Results
Thirty-two (15.2%) were 60 years of age or older. The frequencies of a comorbid illness with the age >or=60-years group were significantly higher than those of the age <60-years group (p<0.0001). The symptoms were almost identical in both age groups, but the fever magnitude was significantly lower in the age >or=60-years group than the age <60-years group (p<0.0001). One or more additional etiological factors were found more frequently in the age >or=60-years group than in the age <60-years group (37.5% vs 10.1%, p=0.0003). The diagnostic sensitivity for M. pneumoniae pneumonia using the Japanese CAP guidelines scoring system was significantly lower in the age >or=60-years group than in the age <60-years group (50% vs 90%, p <0.0001).
Conclusions
Our results indicate that the frequency of M. pneumoniae pneumonia in the elderly was low but not rare. The symptoms and severity of the illness from this infection were almost identical in both age groups and the mortality rate was low even in the elderly. It seems to be difficult to distinguish between M. pneumoniae pneumonia and bacterial pneumonia in the elderly.
Keywords: Pneumonia, Mycoplasma - microbiology, Japan - epidemiology, Mycoplasma pneumoniae - physiology, Community-Acquired Infections - microbiology, Age Distribution
Editorial
01 April 2024 : Editorial
Editorial: Forty Years of Waiting for Prevention and Cure of HIV Infection – Ongoing Challenges and Hopes for Vaccine Development and Overcoming Antiretroviral Drug ResistanceDOI: 10.12659/MSM.944600
Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e944600
In Press
08 Mar 2024 : Clinical Research
Evaluation of Foot Structure in Preschool Children Based on Body MassMed Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.943765
15 Apr 2024 : Laboratory Research
The Role of Copper-Induced M2 Macrophage Polarization in Protecting Cartilage Matrix in OsteoarthritisMed Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.943738
07 Mar 2024 : Clinical Research
Knowledge of and Attitudes Toward Clinical Trials: A Questionnaire-Based Study of 179 Male Third- and Fourt...Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.943468
08 Mar 2024 : Animal Research
Modification of Experimental Model of Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) in Rat Pups by Single Exposure to Hyp...Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.943443
Most Viewed Current Articles
17 Jan 2024 : Review article
Vaccination Guidelines for Pregnant Women: Addressing COVID-19 and the Omicron VariantDOI :10.12659/MSM.942799
Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e942799
14 Dec 2022 : Clinical Research
Prevalence and Variability of Allergen-Specific Immunoglobulin E in Patients with Elevated Tryptase LevelsDOI :10.12659/MSM.937990
Med Sci Monit 2022; 28:e937990
16 May 2023 : Clinical Research
Electrophysiological Testing for an Auditory Processing Disorder and Reading Performance in 54 School Stude...DOI :10.12659/MSM.940387
Med Sci Monit 2023; 29:e940387
01 Jan 2022 : Editorial
Editorial: Current Status of Oral Antiviral Drug Treatments for SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Non-Hospitalized Pa...DOI :10.12659/MSM.935952
Med Sci Monit 2022; 28:e935952