Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Question 1

What are the diagnostics for Mycoplasma pneumoniae?

Answer 1

1. absence of cell wall
2. bacterial membrane
   contains cholesterol
3. grown on artificial media
   req’ lots of different lipids;
   characteristic “fried egg”
   colonies w/raised center
4. rod-shaped w/ pointed tip
5. serologies; cold-aglutinin
   titer (IgM autoAb’s against
   type O blood cells)—non-
   specific

Question 2

What are the virulence factors for Mycoplasma pneumoniae?

Answer 2

1. produces hydrogen peroxide 
damages resp tract cells 
2. Ab’s against RBCs (cold 
agglutinins), brain, lung, and liver 
cells produced during infection

Question 3

What are clinical Manifestations for Mycoplasma Pneumoniae?

Answer 3

1. Atypical Pneumonia
   a. most common cause of pneumonia in
   young adults
   b. gradual onset with non-productive
   cough, sore throat, earache
   c. constitutional sx of fever, headache,
   malaise, and myalgias pronounced
   d. minimal chest x-ray findings
   e. resolves spontaneously in 10-14 days

Question 4

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is also known as?

Answer 4

Walking pneumoniae