Efficacy of levofloxacin on macrolide-unresponsive and corticosteroid-resistant refractory mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in children

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to summarize the experience in treatment of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) with worsening lung shadow despite treatment with appropriate antimicrobials and corticosteroid in children. Methods: All patients satisfied refractory MP pneumonia (RMPP) diagnostic criteria were enrolled. The clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, imaging features, treatments, and outcomes were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Six patients with an average age of 7.83±3.13 years old were included in this study. All the patients were non-responsive to macrolide (ML) and glucocorticoids treatment shown by aggravated clinical symptoms and chest radiographies. The average total duration of fever was 19.5±8.34 days and the average time before levofloxacin (LVX) therapy was 10±2.97 days. After LVX treatment, the time of fever was from 1 to 3 days in five cases and 11 days in one case. The MP-DNA copies in the sputum decreased slowly after ML treatment in six patients, while they decreased quickly after LVX treatment in 5 children. A2063G mutation of domain V of 23SrRNA gene was found in five cases. Five patients recovered completely 16–32 days after treatment. One patient developed acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) with abnormal brain magnetic resonance imaging and occurred serious sequelae. Conclusion: The sputum MP-DNA copies and clinical symptoms have a positive correlation with therapeutic efficacy. LVX may be beneficial in treatment of ML-unresponsive and corticosteroid-resistant RMPP in children. RMPP can be gradually cured by effective treatment of LVX, while which can damage the nervous system and lead to severe complications once MP invades brain tissues.