Pathogens
Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Precautions

Droplet / Contact Precautions

Susceptibilities

General Information

  • Fastidious short rod that does not appear on Gram stain - an "atypical"
  • Intracellular pathogen
  • Can be detected using PCR on a throat specimen in viral transport media
  • Most common in school aged children or adolescents.
  • Usually have symptoms of cough and fever for over 6 days.
  • Family members are also often ill with symptomatic respiratory tract symptoms.

Post-infectious syndromes include hemolysis from cold agglutinins, rash, encephalitis, arthritis, and rarely cardiac involvement

  • Maintain precautions for the duration of illness or contact IPAC.
  • A PCR test is available on throat specimens.