Like China, in recent weeks, France has also noted a “unusual increase in cases of respiratory infections” to the mycoplasma pneumoniae bacteria, warns the Director General of Health on Wednesday November 29 in an urgent letter sent to health professionals.
The vast majority of infections are mild and resolve spontaneously, but some cases may require hospitalization, this letter specifies.
Last week, the World Health Organization (WHO) expressed concern about an increase in cases of respiratory diseases in China and asked Chinese authorities for more detailed information on the subject, calling on the population to better protect themselves .
A well-known bacteria
“I had the deputy director general of the WHO, we take stock every day”said Health Minister Aurélien Rousseau on Wednesday on Franceinfo, when questioned on the subject. “The Chinese authorities, from what emerges today, there are necessarily uncertainties, are aware of the rebound in pneumonia which is linked to a bacteria, which is called mycoplasma. We know it well (…), this is not a virus”he added.
“Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a so-called “atypical” bacteria responsible for respiratory infections, very common in children over 4 years old and young adults”specifies the DGS. “In the face of bacterial pneumonia (…) the first-line treatment remains amoxicillin or the amoxicillin/clavulanic acid combination according to the usual recommendations“, he continues.
“It’s a bacteria that responds very well to specific antibiotics, we have them on the territory”also said Aurélien Rousseau. “We have 6 months of stock on these products, but today we have an increase, as in all European countries, in these bacteria”he added, emphasizing that the impact was particularly felt on pediatric emergencies.
Public Health France continues its analyzes
The Ministry of Health ensures that the public health agency France (SpF) is continuing its analyzes at the national level in order to clarify the characteristics and current dynamics of the epidemic. Furthermore, the National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM) “ensures reinforced monitoring of the consumption of antibiotics used in winter as part of the fight against drug shortages”.
At the beginning of November, the ministry asked pharmaceutical groups and pharmacists to make several commitments in order to combat shortages of certain medications, a problem which was particularly accentuated last winter. A very common antibiotic, amoxicillin, had become emblematic of these shortages, proving very difficult to find for many weeks, particularly in its version intended for children.