– a common etiological cause of community-acquired pneumonia in children and young adults. Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a microorganism of very small size. The pathogen does not have a strong cell wall. Mycoplasma infections usually occur as epidemics at intervals of 3-5 years. In this article on estet-portal.com, we will review the clinical
manifestations of infectionscaused by the pathogen Mycoplasma pneumoniae, methods of their diagnosis and modern approaches to treatment.
- Mycoplasma infection is characterized by pulmonary and extrapulmonary manifestations
- Principles for the diagnosis of mycoplasma infection: serology and PCR Mycoplasma infection is characterized by pulmonary and extrapulmonary manifestations
The incubation period for mycoplasma infection can be from 1 to 4 weeks. Mycoplasma pneumoniae usually causes a mild upper respiratory tract infection that presents with a runny nose, cough, and sore throat.
On average, a mycoplasma infection lasts two to three weeks and clears up spontaneously.
In about 10% of patients, mycoplasma infection persists for a month or longer.Mycoplasma pneumoniae can cause progressive pneumonia, the main clinical sign of which is a prolonged cough.
1. Exanthema;
2. Defeat of the central nervous system (encephalitis, meningitis, myelitis, polyradiculitis);
3. Hepatitis;
4. Dyspepsia.
5. Hematological disorders;
Mycoplasma pneumoniae should be suspected as a cause of respiratory involvement if:1. There is an epidemic of mycoplasma infection;
2. In the area where the patient lives, cases of mycoplasma infection have been reported;
3. Patient reports contact with a child or young person who has been diagnosed with mycoplasma infection.
Follow us onInstagram! To confirm the etiological role of the pathogen Mycoplasma pneumoniae in the development of atypical pneumonia, it is necessary to conduct specific
diagnostic tests. Principles for the diagnosis of mycoplasma infection: serological testing and PCR
Specific diagnosis of mycoplasma infection consists of serological tests and PCR (polymerase chain reaction).
Acute mycoplasma infection can be diagnosed by the presence of IgM antibodies to the pathogen in the patient's serum. Immunoglobulins can be identified as early as the first week of illness.
A significant increase (at least 2-fold) in the amount of IgG class antibodies in paired sera taken at intervals of 2-3 weeks also indicates an acute mycoplasma infection.
IgM antibodies detected by ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) may remain positive for months or even years from the onset of infection.
Prolonged detection of IgM antibodies is not a sign of active Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection.Read also:
Cold season: clinical picture and treatment of rhinovirus infection Although paired sera can only be used retrospectively, testing is important for confirming the presence of an epidemic.
Chest X-ray is necessary to diagnose pneumonia.
In the treatment of infections caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, antibiotics of the tetracycline group (Doxacycline) and macrolides are the drugs of choice.
Fluoroquinolones also have activity against mycoplasmas, but are not recommended as first-line drugs.
Macrolide-resistant strains of Mycoplasma pneumoniae exist.
The maximum duration of treatment for mycoplasmal pneumonia is 14 days.
1. Doxycycline 100mg twice a day. The drug is used only for patients over the age of 10;
2. Azithromycin for 5 days: first dose 500 mg, then 250 mg 1 time per day. Alternatively, other macrolides may be used: Roxithromycin 150 mg twice daily or Clarithromycin 250-500 mg twice daily;
3. Moxifloxacin 400 mg 1 time per day, or Levofloxacin 500 mg 1-2 times a day (750 mg 1 time per day is possible). .
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Prognosis for patients after mycoplasma infection
The prognosis is favorable: in most cases, patients recover well after an infection caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae.It is believed that most cases of mycoplasmal infections are not diagnosed at all and resolve themselves without any antibiotic therapy.
In some cases, after pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, asthenia may be present for a long time. The cough persists for several weeks.
Normalization of the X-ray picture may also require a long period of time.
Thus, the following conclusions can be drawn:
1. Mycoplasma pneumoniae usually causes a mild upper respiratory tract infection;
2. Specific diagnosis of mycoplasma infection consists in conducting serological tests and PCR;3. Mycoplasma pneumoniae– bacterium susceptible to macrolides,
tetracyclines and fluoroquinolones.
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