Leukocyte activation patterns in children with <i>Mycoplasma pneumoniae</i> infection: a comparison with viral and bacterial infections.

ABSTRACT: Respiratory infections are a leading cause of pediatric emergency department (ED) visits, necessitating accurate pathogen identification. Flow cytometry markers, CD64 (nCD64) on neutrophils and CD169 (mCD169) on monocytes, are valuable in distinguishing bacterial from viral infections. However, their roles in identifying Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP), an atypical bacterium, remain unclear. This prospective study analyzed 118 children with respiratory infections and fever, categorized into MP (n = 64), bacterial (n = 20), and viral (n = 33) groups, alongside 28 healthy controls. Viral infections showed elevated mCD169, while bacterial infections had increased nCD64. Notably, MP infections displayed significantly higher nCD64 and mCD169 levels compared to viral and b

SUBMITTER: Mao M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12671156 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature