Diagnosis and Treatment of Mycoplasma Pneumoniae and Vaccine Development

Mycoplasma pneumoniae accounts for 10-30% of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in children. Proportionally, M. pneumoniae has become the most important pathogen for childhood pneumonia after the widespread use of Streptococcus pneumoniae vaccines. M. pneumoniae is routinely treated with antibiotics, and the macrolides antibiotics are the drug of choice for M. pneumonia infection. However, macrolide-resistance rates have increased to 20 and 100% in Asia. In previous studies, the most common mutation point, A2063G, was detected from 23% of local strains in Taiwan. The evolution and spreading of Mycoplasma in Taiwan and different countries are unknown. While the macrolide-resistance is increasing, the optimal therapy remains unclear. Both tetracyclines and fluoroquinolones showed promises in treating macrolide-resistant M. pneumoniae in adults. However, their use in children is not recommended due to safety concerns. Recently, evidence are accumulating that doxycycline, unlike other tetracyclines, does not cause staining of teeth. In the current study, the investigators are going to carry out a randomized control trial to compare the efficacy and safety of doxycycline against macrolide-resistant M. pneumoniae.