Pathogens
Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Precautions

Droplet / Contact Precautions

Susceptibilities

General Information

  • Fastidious short bacillus.
  • Lacks a cell wall for Gram staining.

Exclusively found in humans. Can colonize the upper respiratory tract of more than 50% of healthy asymptomatic children.

Global distribution. Particularly common in school aged children and other crowded environments such as college and military institutions. Transmission through direct contact or inhalation of respiratory droplets.

Community-acquired infections including:

  • Atypical pneumonia

Other manifestations including:

  • Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (cold agglutinin disease)
  • Mycoplasma pneumoniae-induced rash and mucositis (MIRM)
  • Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM)
  • Guillain-Barre syndrome
  • Cranial nerve palsies
  • Arthritis
  • Rarely cardiac involvement (e.g. heart failure, myocarditis, pericardial effusion)