Our thanks to our PR Event Coordinator/ Education Chairperson, Dr. Denise Makri-Werzen, PUBH:CH  HP RN/MT(ASCP) CSN/HT  Ph.D. MS BS for sharing this important public health advisory.

Key Points or Updates from the public health advisory (please see that attached file for detailed information):  

1. "The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) are observing an increase in reports of pneumonia. The proportion of patients discharged from emergency departments with a diagnosis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae-associated pneumonia has been increasing across the United States and New Jersey. Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections are typically mild, but can result in severe illness among vulnerable populations, including young children, older adults, and individuals with underlying health conditions.
2. Health care providers should consider pneumoniae as a possible cause of infection and test using nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) when indicated. Providers should ensure appropriate antibiotic therapy is administered. Macrolides are the first line of treatment for M. pneumoniae infections. Consider using tetracyclines or fluoroquinolones if a macrolide does not appear to be effective.
3. Early childcare, schools, long-term care facilities, and other congregate care settings should report suspected clusters or outbreaks to their local health department. Individual cases of pneumoniae are not reportable in New Jersey.
4. Local health departments, schools, long-term care facilities, and other congregate care settings should promote CDC core prevention strategies to prevent respiratory illness, including practicing proper hand hygiene and covering coughs and sneezes."

Please see the attached file.