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Atypical pneumonia

Marina Basarab1, M Bruce Macrae, Carmel M Curtis

  • 1Department of Clinical Microbiology and Virology, University College London Hospital, London, UK.

Current Opinion in Pulmonary Medicine
|March 15, 2014
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Advances in atypical pneumonia diagnosis and treatment are emerging. Molecular diagnostics are improving, but challenges remain in distinguishing infection from carriage, alongside the rise of macrolide-resistant Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Microbiology
  • Pulmonology

Background:

  • Atypical pneumonia encompasses infections like legionellosis, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydophila species pneumonia, and Q fever.
  • Understanding and diagnosing these infections is crucial for effective patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review key advances in the diagnosis and management of atypical pneumonia.
  • To highlight recent developments in molecular diagnostics and antimicrobial therapies.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent literature on atypical pneumonia pathogens.
  • Focus on advancements in molecular diagnostic techniques, such as multiplex PCR.
  • Analysis of emerging antimicrobial resistance patterns and new therapeutic agents.

Main Results:

  • Molecular diagnostics for Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydophila pneumoniae are advancing with multiplex PCR.
  • Diagnostic challenges persist in differentiating between pathogen carriage and active infection.
  • Emergence of macrolide-resistant Mycoplasma pneumoniae, particularly in Asia, and development of new ketolide antimicrobials.

Conclusions:

  • Limited progress in understanding atypical pathogen epidemiology and antimicrobial therapy effectiveness.
  • Widespread molecular testing implementation is expected to enhance epidemiological insights and promote targeted antimicrobial therapy.
  • New antimicrobial classes offer potential for empirical and pathogen-specific treatment.

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