Pneumonia, Mycoplasma

Basics

Description

  • Bronchopulmonary infection caused by the Mycoplasma species, Mycoplasma pneumoniae
  • Smallest free-living organism; fastidious and slow-growing; first isolated in cattle in 1898
  • Most frequently affects children/young adults but can also occur in the elderly; often causes epidemics in closed communities (i.e., skilled nursing facilities)
  • Infection may be asymptomatic, most often confined to the upper respiratory tract; however, may progress to pneumonia (5–10%)
  • Course is usually acute with an incubation period of 1 to 4 weeks.
  • Synonym(s): primary atypical pneumonia (PAP); Eaton agent pneumonia; cold agglutinin–positive pneumonia; walking pneumonia

Geriatric Considerations
The highest rate of ICU admissions for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) secondary to M. pneumoniae occurs in seniors.

Pediatric Considerations

  • Plays a significant role in pneumonias in children of all ages (Pneumonia <5 years, however, viral infection is far more common.)
  • Increased incidence of asthma exacerbation in older children (1)[A]
  • Infants 3 to 6 months with suspected bacterial pneumonia should be hospitalized.

Epidemiology

Incidence

  • Estimated 1 million cases per year in the United States
  • Responsible for 20% of CAP requiring hospitalizations annually
  • Infection occurs most frequently in fall/winter seasons but may develop year round.

Prevalence

  • Predominant sex: male = female
  • Predominant age group affected: 5 to 20 years
    • May occur at any age
    • Rare in children <5 years of age
  • Responsible for up to 15–20% of all cases of CAP yearly
    • Most common cause of pneumonia in school children and young adults who do not have a chronic underlying condition

Etiology and Pathophysiology

  • M. pneumoniae is a short-rod mucosal pathogen, which lacks a cell wall and thus not visible on Gram stain.
  • Can grow under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions
  • Highly contagious, M. pneumoniae is transmitted primarily by aerosol droplets.
  • Pathogenicity linked to its filamentous tips, which adhere selectively to respiratory epithelial cell membrane proteins with production of H2O2 and superoxide radicals, damaging cilia
  • Many pathogenic features of infection are believed to be immune mediated, not directly induced.
  • Decreased ciliary movement produces prolonged paroxysmal, hacking cough.
  • Incubation period is 2 to 3 weeks.
ALERT
  • Infection by M. pneumoniae has come to be recognized as a worldwide cause of CAP.
  • M. pneumoniae infection may worsen asthma symptoms as well as cause wheezing in children without asthma.
  • M. pneumoniae infection may worsen chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or other chronic pulmonary condition symptoms in adults.

Risk Factors

  • Immunocompromised state (e.g., HIV, transplant recipients, chemotherapy)
  • Smoking
  • Close community living (e.g., military barracks, prisons, hospitals, dormitories, schools, household contacts, skilled nursing facilities)

General Prevention

Consider droplet isolation of active cases.

Commonly Associated Conditions

  • Asthma exacerbations as a result of proinflammatory cytokine release (1)[A]
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

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