Mycoplasma pneumonia
| Mycoplasma pneumonia | |
|---|---|
Infectious disease, pulmonology | |
| Complications | Stevens–Johnson syndrome, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, cardiovascular diseases, encephalitis, Guillain–Barré syndrome[citation needed] |
Mycoplasma pneumonia is a form of bacterial pneumonia caused by the bacterium Mycoplasma pneumoniae.
Signs and symptoms
M. pneumoniae is known to cause a host of symptoms such as
Cause
Mycoplasma pneumoniae is spread through
Pathophysiology
Once attached to the mucosa of a host organism, M. pneumoniae extracts nutrients, grows, and reproduces by
Mycoplasma atypical pneumonia can be complicated by Stevens–Johnson syndrome, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, cardiovascular diseases, encephalitis, or Guillain–Barré syndrome.[citation needed]
Diagnosis
Historically, diagnosis of M. pneumoniae infections was made based on
Treatment
While antibiotics with activity specifically against M. pneumoniae are often used (e.g., erythromycin, doxycycline), it is unclear if these result in greater benefit than using antibiotics without specific activity against this organism in those with an infection acquired in the community.[4]
The majority of antibiotics used to treat M. pneumoniae infections are targeted at bacterial
The difficulty in eradicating Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections is due to the ability of the bacterium to persist within an individual, as well as the lack of cell wall in M. pneumoniae, which renders multiple antibiotics directed at the bacterial cell wall ineffective in treating infections.
Prognosis
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Prevention
Transmission of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections is difficult to limit because of the several day period of infection before symptoms appear.[8] The lack of proper diagnostic tools and effective treatment for the bacterium also contribute to the outbreak of infection.[8] Using network theory, Meyers et al. analyzed the transmission of M. pneumoniae infections and developed control strategies based on the created model. They determined that cohorting patients is less effective due to the long incubation period, and so the best method of prevention is to limit caregiver-patient interactions and reduce the movement of caregivers to multiple wards.[9]
Epidemiology
The prevalence of mycoplasma pneumonia (MP) is greater among children than adults.[12][13][14] Many adults remain asymptomatic, while children typically do not.[13]
The incidence of disease does not appear to be related to season or geography; however, infection tends to occur more frequently during the summer and fall months when other respiratory
Rates of mycoplasma pneumonia in all global community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) cases range from 10-15%.[12][14] The rate of mycoplasma pneumonia in adults with CAP is estimated to be 15%, and the rate of in children with CAP has been reported at 27.4%.[13] The rates of M. pneumonia among hospitalized CAP cases are 35% in adults[14] and 24% in children.[13] Rates of hospitalizations among adults increase with age.[13] M. pneumonia has been shown to act as a trigger for other lung diseases.[14]
Cases of M. pneumonia may be unreported due to patients with little or no symptoms not seeking medical care.[12][14] On a global scale, differences in lab techniques and sampling methods can also impact the reported number of cases.[12]
M. pneumonia can be spread by droplets and aerosols, typically from an infected person coughing or sneezing.[13] If a person still has a cough, they can remain infectious even after a majority of other symptoms disappear.[14]
Outbreaks follow a 3-7 year cycle.
See also
- Mycoplasmal pneumonia of swine