Mycoplasma pneumonia

Other names: Walking pneumonia

Mycoplasma pneumonia (also known as "walking pneumonia") is a form of bacterial pneumonia caused by the bacterial species Mycoplasma pneumoniae. It is also known as PPLO, which is an acronym for Pleuro Pneumonia Like Organism.

## Contents

* 1 Signs and symptoms
* 2 Pathophysiology
* 3 Diagnosis
* 4 Treatment
* 5 See also
* 6 References
* 7 External links

## Signs and symptoms[edit | edit source]

The presentation of this condition is consistent with the following:[1]

* Fever
* Fatigue
* Worsening cough
* Headache

## Pathophysiology[edit | edit source]

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 extrapulmonary 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, autoimmune hemolytic anemia, cardiovascular diseases, encephalitis, or Guillain–Barré syndrome.

## Diagnosis[edit | edit source]

Right upper and middle lobe infiltration in a individual with mycoplasma pneumonia.

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.[2]

## Treatment[edit | edit source]

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.[3]

## See also[edit | edit source]

* Mycoplasmal pneumonia of swine

## References[edit | edit source]

1. ↑ "Mycoplasma pneumoniae Signs and Symptoms | CDC". www.cdc.gov. 29 August 2022. Archived from the original on 10 May 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
2. ↑ Waris ME, Toikka P, Saarinen T, et al. (November 1998). "Diagnosis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in children". J. Clin. Microbiol. 36 (11): 3155–9. doi:10.1128/JCM.36.11.3155-3159.1998. PMC 105292. PMID 9774556.
3. ↑ Biondi, E; McCulloh, R; Alverson, B; Klein, A; Dixon, A (Jun 2014). "Treatment of mycoplasma pneumonia: a systematic review". Pediatrics. 133 (6): 1081–90. doi:10.1542/peds.2013-3729. PMID 24864174.

## External links[edit | edit source]

Classification|

* ICD-10: J15.7
* ICD-9-CM: 483.0
* MeSH: D011019

|

External resources|

* MedlinePlus: 000082
* eMedicine: emerg/467

* v
* t
* e

* Firmicutes (low-G+C) Infectious diseases
* Bacterial diseases: G+

Bacilli|

| Lactobacillales
(Cat-)|

| Streptococcus|

| α|

| optochin susceptible|

* S. pneumoniae
* Pneumococcal infection

|

optochin resistant|

* Viridans streptococci: S. mitis
* S. mutans
* S. oralis
* S. sanguinis
* S. sobrinus
* S. anginosus group

| A|

* bacitracin susceptible: S. pyogenes
* Group A streptococcal infection
* Streptococcal pharyngitis
* Scarlet fever
* Erysipelas
* Rheumatic fever

|

* bacitracin resistant, CAMP test+: S. agalactiae
* Group B streptococcal infection

ungrouped|

* Streptococcus iniae
* Cutaneous Streptococcus iniae infection

* D
* BEA+: Streptococcus bovis

Enterococcus|

* BEA+: Enterococcus faecalis
* Urinary tract infection
* Enterococcus faecium

Bacillales
(Cat+)|

| Staphylococcus|

| Cg+|

* S. aureus
* Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome
* Toxic shock syndrome
* MRSA

|

Cg-|

* novobiocin susceptible
* S. epidermidis
* novobiocin resistant
* S. saprophyticus

Bacillus|

* Bacillus anthracis
* Anthrax
* Bacillus cereus
* Food poisoning

Listeria|

* Listeria monocytogenes
* Listeriosis

Clostridia|

| Clostridium (spore-forming)|

| motile:|

* Clostridium difficile
* Pseudomembranous colitis
* Clostridium botulinum
* Botulism
* Clostridium tetani
* Tetanus

|

nonmotile:|

* Clostridium perfringens
* Gas gangrene
* Clostridial necrotizing enteritis

Finegoldia (non-spore forming)|

* Finegoldia magna

Mollicutes|

| Mycoplasmataceae|

* Ureaplasma urealyticum
* Ureaplasma infection
* Mycoplasma genitalium
* Mycoplasma pneumoniae
* Mycoplasma pneumonia

|

Anaeroplasmatales|

* Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae
* Erysipeloid

* v
* t
* e

Diseases of the respiratory system

Upper RT
(including URTIs,
common cold)|

| Head|

sinuses

Sinusitis

nose

Rhinitis

Vasomotor rhinitis
Atrophic rhinitis
Hay fever
Nasal polyp
Rhinorrhea
nasal septum

Nasal septum deviation
Nasal septum perforation
Nasal septal hematoma

tonsil

Tonsillitis
Adenoid hypertrophy
Peritonsillar abscess

|

Neck|

pharynx

Pharyngitis

Strep throat
Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR)
Retropharyngeal abscess

larynx

Croup
Laryngomalacia
Laryngeal cyst
Laryngitis
Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR)
Laryngospasm

vocal cords

Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR)
Vocal fold nodule
Vocal fold paresis
Vocal cord dysfunction

epiglottis

Epiglottitis

trachea

Tracheitis
Laryngotracheal stenosis

Lower RT/lung disease
(including LRTIs)|

| Bronchial/
obstructive|

acute

Acute bronchitis

chronic

COPD

Chronic bronchitis
Acute exacerbation of COPD)
Asthma (Status asthmaticus
Aspirin-induced
Exercise-induced
Bronchiectasis
Cystic fibrosis

unspecified

Bronchitis
Bronchiolitis

Bronchiolitis obliterans
Diffuse panbronchiolitis

|

Interstitial/
restrictive
(fibrosis)|

| External agents/
occupational
lung disease|

Pneumoconiosis

Aluminosis
Asbestosis
Baritosis
Bauxite fibrosis
Berylliosis
Caplan's syndrome
Chalicosis
Coalworker's pneumoconiosis
Siderosis
Silicosis
Talcosis
Byssinosis

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis

Bagassosis
Bird fancier's lung
Farmer's lung
Lycoperdonosis

|

Other|

* ARDS
* Combined pulmonary fibrosis and emphysema
* Pulmonary edema
* Löffler's syndrome/Eosinophilic pneumonia
* Respiratory hypersensitivity
* Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis
* Hamman-Rich syndrome
* Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
* Sarcoidosis
* Vaping-associated pulmonary injury

Obstructive / Restrictive|

| Pneumonia/
pneumonitis|

| By pathogen|

* Viral
* Bacterial
* Pneumococcal
* Klebsiella
* Atypical bacterial
* Mycoplasma
* Legionnaires' disease
* Chlamydiae
* Fungal
* Pneumocystis
* Parasitic
* noninfectious
* Chemical/Mendelson's syndrome
* Aspiration/Lipid

|

By vector/route|

* Community-acquired
* Healthcare-associated
* Hospital-acquired

By distribution|

* Broncho-
* Lobar

IIP|

* UIP
* DIP
* BOOP-COP
* NSIP
* RB

Other|

* Atelectasis
* circulatory
* Pulmonary hypertension
* Pulmonary embolism
* Lung abscess

Pleural cavity/
mediastinum|

| Pleural disease|

* Pleuritis/pleurisy

* Pneumothorax/Hemopneumothorax

Pleural effusion

Hemothorax
Hydrothorax
Chylothorax
Empyema/pyothorax
Malignant

Fibrothorax

|

Mediastinal disease|

* Mediastinitis
* Mediastinal emphysema

Other/general|

* Respiratory failure
* Influenza
* Common cold
* SARS
* COVID-19
* Idiopathic pulmonary haemosiderosis
* Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis

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