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Mycoplasma hominis necrotizing pleuropneumonia in a previously healthy adolescent

Andres Pascual1, Marie-Helene Perez, Katia Jaton

  • 1Infectious Diseases Service, Department of Medicine, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland. Andres.Pascual@chuv.ch

BMC Infectious Diseases
|November 26, 2010
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Mycoplasma hominis can cause severe pneumonia and pericarditis, even in healthy individuals. This organism should be suspected in patients with severe pneumonia unresponsive to standard treatments.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Microbiology
  • Pulmonology

Background:

  • Mycoplasma hominis is a bacterium known for causing neonatal systemic and adult genital infections.
  • It can also lead to severe extra-genital infections, particularly in immunocompromised individuals.

Observation:

  • A case of severe pneumonia and pericarditis caused by Mycoplasma hominis in a previously healthy adolescent is presented.
  • The patient did not respond to initial standard therapies.

Findings:

  • Mycoplasma hominis can be an underrecognized cause of severe pneumonia in immunocompetent patients.
  • Lack of response to standard therapy may indicate Mycoplasma hominis infection.

Implications:

  • Clinicians should consider Mycoplasma hominis in cases of severe pneumonia, especially when standard treatments fail.
  • Early suspicion and diagnosis of Mycoplasma hominis can lead to timely and appropriate management.

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