Mycoplasma pneumoniae Flashcards
What is the structure of mycoplasma pneumoniae?
Tiny bacteria with no cell wall.
Mycoplasma pneumoniae is commonly termed as “walking ___”.
pneumonia.
What are the clinical manifestations of mycoplasma pneumoniae?
The leading cause of respiratory infections in which patients develop fever, headache, malaise, and cough. May develop Raynaud syndrome.
What is the gold standard, yet rarely performed, method for mycoplasma pneumoniae testing?
Culture.
What other testing methods for mycoplasma pneumoniae are there?
Antibodies to M. pneumoniae; cold agglutinins; molecular.
Describe cold agglutinin.
Cold agglutinins are autoantibodies that react with antigens on the RBC membrane at cold temperatures.
Describe cold agglutinin testing for mycoplasma pneumoniae.
Present in ~50% of patients; not specific; antibodies produce early in disease course.
RBC agglutination occurs at ___ degrees Celsius, and is reversible at ___ degrees Celsius.
4; 37.
Cold agglutinin testing may produce a false-positive when…
Other viruses and vascular diseases are present.
IgM antibodies indicate what type of M. Pneumoniae infection?
A recent infection.
IgG antibodies indicate what type of M. Pneumoniae infection?
A reinfection.
ELISA can have a high ___ and ___ for M. Pneumoniae testing.
sensitivity and specificity.
