Mycoplasma bacteria that have disappeared since corona are back
Published: Thursday, Nov 23rd 2023, 14:11
Updated At: Thursday, Nov 23rd 2023, 14:14
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After an absence of more than three years, the mycoplasmas that cause pneumonia are back. This is the result of a study by an international research team under Swiss leadership, which was published on Thursday in the journal "The Lancet Microbe".
China is already struggling with an increased incidence of pneumonia. The WHO requested information on this on Thursday night. China's National Health Commission attributes the increase in such illnesses in the country to the spread of the pathogens following the lifting of the coronavirus measures. As the state news agency Xinhua reported on Wednesday, influenza in particular is experiencing a "steep upward trend" in Beijing. Mycoplasma infections have also increased recently. The study on the resurgence of mycoplasma was therefore published earlier than originally planned.
"There is also currently a significant increase in Switzerland," said study leader Patrick Meyer Sauteur from Zurich Children's Hospital at the request of the Keystone-SDA news agency. How the infections develop in this country is now being closely monitored.
Absent for over three years
Mycoplasmas (Mycoplasma pneumoniae) were among the most common bacterial pathogens causing pneumonia in children before the pandemic. They can also lead to diseases of the skin, mucous membranes and nervous system. With the corona measures, the bacteria had disappeared and remained absent for so long that researchers were puzzled as to whether they would return at all.
"From a scientific point of view, this was absolutely fascinating," said study leader Patrick Meyer Sauteur. The measures against Covid-19 also led to a decline in the transmission of other pathogens. However, with the exception of mycoplasma, almost all of them returned after the measures were lifted.
In the meantime, mycoplasma infections have also reached or even exceeded pre-pandemic levels, as the research team led by Meyer Sauteur shows in the study. "We are currently experiencing the long-awaited resurgence of mycoplasma infections and are already seeing record numbers in Switzerland," says the doctor.
Not recognizing can be dangerous
In many cases, mycoplasma infections are mild and heal on their own; more severe infections are usually treated with antibiotics. "But they have to be recognized," Meyer Sauteur clarified. This is because penicillin antibiotics, which are primarily recommended for bacterial pneumonia, are not effective against mycoplasmas.
"Because the bacterium has been absent for so long, there is a possibility that the specialist staff will no longer think of mycoplasma despite the corresponding symptoms," said Meyer Sauteur. However, the re-emergence of mycoplasma has been handled very well in Swiss hospitals so far.
Immunity possibly lower
What remains is the question of how the infections will continue to develop. "We need to keep a close eye on developments now in the fall; the rise in infections in recent months is very impressive," said Meyer Sauteur.
In addition, immunity in the population is lower after more than three years of absence, which could result in more and sometimes more severe infections. So far, however, this has not been the case.
©Keystone/SDA
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