Epidemiology, clinical manifestations, pathogenesis and laboratory detection ofMycoplasma pneumoniaeinfections: Figure 1

Abstract

Since its initial description in the 1940s and eventual elucidation as a highly evolved pathogenic bacterium, Mycoplasma pneumoniae has come to be recognized as a worldwide cause of primary atypical pneumonia. Beyond its ability to cause severe lower respiratory illness and milder upper respiratory symptoms it has become apparent that a wide array of extrapulmonary infectious and postinfectious events may accompany the infections in humans caused by this organism. Autoimmune disorders and chronic diseases such as asthma and arthritis are increasingly being associated with this mycoplasma, which frequently persists in individuals for prolonged periods. The reductive evolutionary process that has led to the minimal genome of M. pneumoniae suggests that it exists as a highly specialized parasitic bacterium capable of residing in an intracellular state within the respiratory tissues, occasionally emerging to produce symptoms. This review includes discussion of some of the newer aspects of our knowledge on this pathogen, characteristics of clinical infections, how it causes disease, the recent emergence of macrolide resistance, and the status of laboratory diagnostic methods.

Surveillance status and recent data for Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections in the European Union and European Economic Area, January 2012

“…pneumoniae infects the upper and lower respiratory tracts in children and adults and is one of the aetiological agents of community-acquired pneumonia [11,12]. Studies have shown that it can cause up to 40% of community-acquired pneumonia and 18% of hospitalisations in children [13].…”

“…M. pneumoniae infections tend to be endemic, punctuated by epidemics at fourto-seven-year intervals [9,10]. Climate, seasonality and geographical location are not thought to be of major importance, although in North America most epidemics usually begin during summer, peak in late autumn/ Box Email questionnaire regarding Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection sent to EU/EEA countries, January 2012 early winter and fade out during winter [8,11]. However, this pattern seems to differ between continents [8,11].…”

MIB–MIP is a mycoplasma system that captures and cleaves immunoglobulin G

“…In humans, two of the most significant pathogens are Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Mycoplasma genitalium, infecting the respiratory and urogenital tracts, respectively; they are mostly associated with diseases characterized by high morbidity and low mortality, like interstitial pneumonia or urethritis (6,7). In farm animals, mycoplasmas have a high economic impact, thus warranting intensive veterinary surveillance and regulation.…”

Cambiando los paradigmas de la infección por M. pneumoniae en pediatría

“…Además, tiene la ventaja de ser cualitativa o cuantitativa, no requerir equipo especializado y utilizar pequeños volúmenes de suero. 64 La IgM aparece entre 7-10 días después del inicio de la infección y sus niveles son más altos en la primera infección que en las subsecuentes. Los niveles de IgG son detectables aproximadamente en la quinta semana y pueden persistir por varios años después de una infección aguda.…”