Beijing is in the peak period of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection, and it is expected to peak next month! CDC: These two drugs are ineffective

Recently, many hospitals across the country have seen a large number of patients with Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection, mostly children. The peak period for Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in Beijing is from August to December each year , and it usually reaches a peak around November each year. The Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention issued a reminder: Penicillin and cephalosporin are completely ineffective against Mycoplasma pneumoniae. If citizens have a fever accompanied by a severe cough, they should seek medical attention in a timely manner, identify the cause as soon as possible, and receive standardized treatment. Do not blindly take medication on your own.
What is Mycoplasma pneumoniae?

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a microorganism between bacteria and viruses, and is the smallest microorganism known in the world that can survive independently. Mycoplasma pneumoniae has no cell wall structure, like a bacterium without a "coat". 75% alcohol and chlorine-containing disinfectants (such as 84 disinfectant) can kill Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is an important pathogen of acute respiratory tract infection in Beijing. Mycoplasma pneumoniae is divided into two subtypes, type I and type II. Currently, the main subtype prevalent in Beijing is type I.

People are generally susceptible to Mycoplasma pneumoniae, but it is more common in children and adolescents over 5 years old.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection can occur throughout the year. The peak period of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in Beijing is from August to December each year, and it usually reaches its peak around November each year.

How is Mycoplasma pneumoniae spread?

Patients infected with Mycoplasma pneumoniae and asymptomatic carriers are the main sources of infection. The incubation period is 1-3 weeks. The patients are contagious during the incubation period until several weeks after symptoms are relieved.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is mainly transmitted through droplets, and the pathogen can be carried in secretions from coughing, sneezing, and runny nose.

What are the symptoms of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection?

The main symptoms of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection are fever and cough . The cough is generally severe and may continue for 1-2 weeks after the fever subsides.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection can cause upper respiratory tract infections, lower respiratory tract infections such as pneumonia, and extrapulmonary complications such as autoimmune hemolytic anemia.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is one of the main pathogens that causes high incidence of pneumonia in Beijing during autumn and winter. Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia is generally an interstitial pneumonia, so clinical signs are often milder than imaging examination results, and lung imaging examinations may still show inflammation after clinical symptoms disappear.

Since Mycoplasma pneumoniae has no cell wall, familiar antibiotics such as penicillin and cephalosporin, which target the cell wall, are completely ineffective against Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

Macrolide antibiotics, such as roxithromycin and azithromycin, are currently the first choice for the treatment of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection.

Therefore, if citizens develop fever accompanied by severe cough, they should seek medical attention in a timely manner, find out the cause as soon as possible, and receive standardized treatment . They should avoid taking medication blindly.

How to prevent Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection?

There is currently no vaccine to prevent Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection. The most important thing to prevent Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection is to develop good personal hygiene habits.

1. Try to avoid going to crowded and poorly ventilated public places, and wear a mask to protect yourself when necessary.

2. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, or use your elbow or upper sleeve to cover it, and throw the used tissue into a covered trash can.

3. Pay attention to hand hygiene and wash your hands with soap or hand sanitizer under running water. If there is no running water, you can wipe and disinfect your hands with alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

4. During the epidemic season, pay attention to indoor ventilation, and ventilate for at least 30 minutes each time to keep the air fresh.

5. Develop healthy living habits, exercise moderately, increase body resistance, and keep warm to avoid catching cold.

6. Key places such as schools and kindergartens should pay attention to ventilation and disinfection, do a good job of daily cleaning, strengthen health monitoring, and avoid clustered infections.

Source: Beijing Daily WeChat Official Account

Reporter Sun Leqi