Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Outbreak Among University Students — Georgia, 2012

BACKGROUND:  On October 17, 2012, the Georgia Department of Public Health (GDPH) was notified by the Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness that a local university (University X) was experiencing a pneumonia outbreak among students. We investigated to identify the etiology, find additional cases, and recommend control measures.

METHODS:  We reviewed University X health center records weekly to identify cases of pneumonia among students clinically diagnosed from September 1 through December 4, 2012. Students with pneumonia were surveyed for common extracurricular activities and places of residence. CDC tested oral and nasopharyngeal swabs collected from consenting students diagnosed with pneumonia for 20 respiratory pathogens by using Taqman Array Cards, a multipathogen, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) platform. During November, the university used e-mail, social media, and posters to alert the community to the outbreak and to educate them regarding prevention measures. A convenience sample of 105 students who had not been diagnosed with pneumonia were asked to select one or more options from a list to indicate their behaviors when they are ill with cough and fever, preferred health communication methods, and how they became aware of the outbreak. 

RESULTS:  We identified 83 cases; 62 (75%) had radiographic findings consistent with pneumonia. Twelve (60%) of 20 swabs from ill students were PCR- positive for Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Five students were hospitalized with complications, including respiratory failure, pericarditis, and myocarditis; all recovered. No predominant exposures, including extracurricular activities and place of residence, were identified. Among 105 students without pneumonia, only 31 (30%) indicated they would stay home with a cough and fever and 34 (32%) would seek medical care for those symptoms. Ninety-three (89%) preferred receiving health communications by e-mail, 45 (43%) preferred posters placed on campus, and 19 (18%) preferred social media. Among 48 students who were aware of the outbreak, 27 (56%) learned from e-mail, 23 (48%) from a friend, 6 (13%) from a poster, and 2 (4%) from social media; 38 (79%) reported they were more likely to use good respiratory hygiene as a result of their knowledge.

CONCLUSIONS:  We identified M. pneumoniae as the etiologic agent of this university outbreak of pneumonia. We recommend university policies that make it easier for students to stay home and seek medical care when ill, and refining health messaging and communication methods to improve awareness of disease outbreaks occurring among students.