Mycoplasma pneumonia

Mycoplasma pneumonia is the cause of up to 20% of cases of community-acquired pneumonia and has also been implicated in some hospital-based epidemics. (1).

Infection occurs at 3- to 5-year intervals and are considered to be polyclonal (2). They chiefly affects children and young adults, causing an atypical pneumonia characterised by an influenza-like respiratory illness of gradual onset with headache, malaise, fever and cough.

Physical findings may be insignificant relative to the radiologic appearance of the pneumonia; some individuals are asymptomatic. Close indoor contact facilitates spread with younger people and smokers at increased risk.

Reference:

• 1. Jain S, Williams DJ, Arnold SR, et al. Community-acquired pneumonia requiring hospitalization among US children. N Engl J Med. 2015;372:835-45.
• 2. Beeton ML, Zhang XS, Uldum SA, et al. Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections, 11 countries in Europe and Israel, 2011 to 2016. Euro Surveill. 2020 Jan;25(2)