New Delhi, India

All India Institute Of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) hospital in the national capital  Delhi has detected the presence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in seven of the samples collected, local reports said citing Lancet Microbe journal. 

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"It is clarified that these seven cases have no link whatsoever to the recent surge in respiratory infections in children reported from some parts of the world, including China. The seven cases have been detected as a part of an ongoing study at AIIMS Delhi in the six-month period (April to September 2023) and are no cause for worry," an Indian government press release said. 

It also added that since January 2023 till date "NO Mycoplasma pneumonia was detected in the 611 samples tested at the Department of Microbiology, AIIMS Delhi as a part ICMR's multiple respiratory pathogen surveillance, which included mainly severe acute respiratory illness (SARI, which comprised about 95% of these cases) by real-time PCR."

Stating that the Union Health Ministry is in touch with state health authorities and is continuously taking stock of the situation everyday, the release further clarified that Mycoplasma pneumonia is the commonest bacterial cause of community acquired pneumonia and is the reason for nearly 15-30percent of all such infections.

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"Such surge has not been reported from any part of India," it said. 

The findings of the report titled "Mycoplasma pneumoniae: delayed re-emergence after COVID-19 pandemic restrictions" in the Lancet journal comes as China and several other European nations have seen a spike in the 'Walking pneumonia' cases. 

'Walking pneumonia' is a colloquial term used to describe a mild form of pneumonia, a respiratory illness. Unlike typical pneumonia, walking pneumonia is often caused by the bacterium Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

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According to the findings made in the journal, one case was identified through an early-stage PCR test, while the remaining six cases were detected using the IgM Elisa test, applicable even in later stages of infection, reports suggested. 

The positivity rates for the PCR and IgM Elisa tests were reported as 3 per cent and 16 per cent, respectively, based on the research.

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NPIs against COVID and M pneumoniae decline linked 

The Lancet report also discussed the impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) implemented against COVID-19, leading to a decline in M pneumoniae detection worldwide.

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Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) are public health measures and strategies that are implemented to control the spread of infectious diseases without the use of pharmaceutical drugs or vaccines. These interventions are particularly relevant in the early stages of an outbreak or when specific pharmaceutical interventions are not available or feasible. 

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"Compared with the pre-pandemic incidence of M pneumoniae (8·61%, 2017–20), a significant reduction was observed in the first year after the implementation of NPIs (1·69%, 2020–21), similar to the incidence of other respiratory pathogens.7 A further unprecedented, yet substantial, reduction in the incidence of M pneumoniae was observed in the second year (0·70%, 2021–22), when other respiratory pathogens resurged as an indicator of community transmission," the report said. 

AIIMS Delhi is a participant in the international consortium which monitors the spread of this illness.

Former head of the microbiology department at AIIMS Delhi Dr Rama Chaudhry reportedly said, "Pneumonia caused by this bacterium is usually mild, that's why it is also referred to as 'walking pneumonia'. But severe cases can also happen." 

(With inputs from agencies)