43- Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma

Question 1

Why is mycoplasma’s cell structure unique?

Answer 1

• Mycoplasma are unique because they don’t have a cell wall, and have sterols in their cell membrane. Thus, they have more resistance to penicillins, cephalosphorins, and vancomycin since they don’t have cell walls.

Question 2

What disease is associated with ureaplasma?

Answer 2

• Ureaplasma has only one big disease, urethritis, which should be easy to remember. It is actually part of the genital normoflora, but in increased amounts can cause burning pissing.

Question 3

Who does mycoplasma pneumonia normally affect?

Answer 3

• Predominant in high school and college age kids. Infection is usually persistent dry non-productive cough, and other common flu-like symptoms (fever, malaise, headache). Mycoplasma is the primary Atypical pneumonia.

Question 4

Mycoplasma- lab features

Answer 4

• Mycoplasma/ureaplasma have no staining since there is no cell wall. Buzz word would be cold agglutinins test for Mycoplasma. Another would be Adhesin, since it uses adhesion to bind to epithelial cells, specifically the cilia, which lead to ciliated cell death. Ureaplasma I highly doubt will be an answer/question on it.