Mycoplasma pneumonia

Mycoplasma pneumonia
Mycoplasma pneumonia
Classification and external resources
ICD-10 B96.0
ICD-9 483.0
MedlinePlus 000082
eMedicine emerg/467
MeSH D011019

Mycoplasma pneumonia (also known as "walking pneumonia" because its patients can sometimes continue to walk about whilst suffering from its symptoms) is a form of bacterial pneumonia which is caused by the bacteria species Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

Contents

Pathophysiology

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is spread through respiratory droplet transmission. Once attached to the mucosa of a host organism, M. pneumoniae extracts nutrients, grows and reproduces by binary fission. Attachment sites include the upper and lower respiratory tract, causing pharyngitis, bronchitis and pneumonia. The infection caused by this bacterium is called atypical pneumonia because of its protracted course and lack of sputum production and wealth of extra-pulmonary symptoms. Chronic mycoplasma infections have been implicated in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis and other rheumatological diseases.

Mycoplasma atypical pneumonia can be complicated by Stevens-Johnson syndrome, hemolytic anemia, encephalitis or Guillain-Barré syndrome.

Diagnosis

M. pneumoniae infections can be differentiated from other types of pneumonia by the relatively slow progression of symptoms, a positive blood test for cold-hemagglutinins in 50-70% of patients after 10 days of infection (cold-hemagglutinin-test should be used with caution or not at all since 50% of the tests are false-positive), lack of bacteria in a gram-stained sputum sample, and a lack of growth on blood agar.

PCR has also been used.[1]

Treatment

Second generation macrolide antibiotics (e.g. erythromycin), doxycycline and second generation quinolones are effective treatments.

References

  1. ^ Waris ME, Toikka P, Saarinen T, et al. (November 1998). "Diagnosis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in children". J. Clin. Microbiol. 36 (11): 3155–9. PMC 105292. PMID 9774556. http://jcm.asm.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=9774556. 

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Mycoplasma pneumonia — mycoplasmal pneumonia the most common form of primary atypical pneumonia (q.v.), caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae and occurring most frequently in young adults; called also Eaton agent p …   Medical dictionary

  • mycoplasma pneumonia — …   Useful english dictionary

  • Mycoplasma pneumoniae — Scientific classification Kingdom: Bacteria Division: Firmicutes Class: Mollicu …   Wikipedia

  • Mycoplasma genitalium — Scientific classification Kingdom: Bacteria Division …   Wikipedia

  • Mycoplasma infection — Mycoplasma infections are associated with skin eruptions in 17% of patients.[1]:293 See also Mycoplasma Skin lesion References ^ James, William D.; Berger, Timothy G.; et al. (2006). Andrews Diseases of the Skin: clinical Dermatology. Saunders… …   Wikipedia

  • Mycoplasma — Not to be confused with Mycobacteria. Mycoplasma Scientific classification Kingdom: Bacteria Phylum: Tenericutes  or Firmicutes Class …   Wikipedia

  • Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae — Mycoplasma hyopneumonaie Scientific classification Kingdom: Bacteria Division: Firmicutes Class …   Wikipedia

  • Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae — Scientific classification Kingdom: Bacteria Division: Firmicutes Class: Mollicutes …   Wikipedia

  • Mycoplasma capricolum — Scientific classification Kingdom: Bacteria Division: Firmicutes Class: Mollicutes …   Wikipedia

  • Mycoplasma hyorhinis — Scientific classification Kingdom: Bacteria Division: Firmicutes Class: Mollicu …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”