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Pneumonia, Mycoplasma

Kenneth A. Ballou, MD Reviewed 06/2022
 


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 fre...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Infection may be asymptomatic.

  • Gradual onset of headache, malaise, low-grade fevers, chills

  • Symptoms of upper respiratory infection, including incessant, nonproductive cough, worsening ...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Avoid ill contacts.

  • Supportive care indicated, especially for very ill patients who may require inpatient treatment

  • Treatment is initially empiric and must be comprehensive to ...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Clearing of condition on CXR should be documented in patients >50 years of age.

  • In smokers, document a clear CXR in 6 to 8 weeks.

  • Worsening symptoms/development ...

REFERENCES

1
Gao  S, Wang  L, Zhu  W, et al. Mycoplasma pneumonia infection and asthma: a clinical study. Pak J Med Sci.  2015;31(3):548–551. [View Abstract on OvidMedline]...

ADDITIONAL READING

  • Atkinson  TP, Balish  MF, Waites  KB. Epidemiology, clinical manifestations, pathogenesis and laboratory detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections. FE...

CODES

ICD10

J15.7 Pneumonia due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae 

SNOMED

46970008 Pneumonia due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae (disorder) 

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Most common atypical respiratory pathogens include M. pneumoniae, C. pneumoniae, and L. pneumophila.

  • Atypical pneumonia is usually a clinical diagnosis.

  • Watch closely for complicating sy...

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