Mycoplasma pneumoniae carriage in children with recurrent respiratory tract infections is associated with a less diverse and altered microbiota.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a common cause of community-acquired pneumonia in school-aged children and can be preceded by asymptomatic carriage. However, its role in recurrent respiratory tract infections is unclear. We studied the prevalence of M.pneumoniae carriage in children with recurrent respiratory infections and identified associated factors.

Methods

We tested M.pneumoniae carriage by qPCR in children with recurrent infections and their healthy family members in a cross-sectional study. Serum and mucosal total and M.pneumoniae-specific antibody levels were measured by ELISA and nasopharyngeal microbiota composition was characterized by 16S-rRNA sequencing.

Findings

Prevalence of M.pneumoniae carriage was higher in children with recurrent infections (68

SUBMITTER: Koenen MH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10679896 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature