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Empyema caused by Mycoplasma salivarium
Rafael Baracaldo1, Michael Foltzer, Robin Patel
1Divisions of Medicine, Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, Pennsylvania, USA.
Journal of Clinical Microbiology
|February 17, 2012
Summary
Mycoplasma salivarium, a bacterium typically found in the mouth, rarely causes infections elsewhere. This report details the first known case of empyema (a type of pleural space infection) caused by this pathogen.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pulmonology
Background:
- Mycoplasma salivarium is a commensal bacterium of the human oral cavity.
- Infections caused by M. salivarium outside the oral cavity are exceptionally rare.
- Laryngeal cancer can predispose patients to various infections.
Observation:
- A 49-year-old male patient with laryngeal cancer presented with a right pleural space infection.
- M. salivarium was identified as the causative agent of the pleural infection.
- The patient's clinical presentation and microbiological findings were consistent with empyema.
Findings:
- This case represents the first documented instance of empyema caused by Mycoplasma salivarium.
- The findings expand the known spectrum of M. salivarium pathogenicity.
- The successful treatment of the empyema highlights the importance of identifying the specific pathogen.
Implications:
- This report underscores the potential for oral commensals to cause severe, invasive infections in immunocompromised or debilitated patients.
- Further research may be warranted to understand the mechanisms by which M. salivarium can disseminate to the pleural space.
- Clinicians should consider M. salivarium in the differential diagnosis of pleural infections, particularly in patients with risk factors such as laryngeal cancer.
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