Neonatal mycoplasmaemia: Mycoplasma hominis as a significant cause of disease?

A full-term baby boy had respiratory distress, fever and pneumonia within 20 h of birth. Isolation of Mycoplasma hominis from blood taken after 20 h and 11 days was accompanied by an antibody response. Although chlamydial IgM antibody was detected, chlamydial infection probably did not cause the pneumonia. Penicillin was ineffective but treatment with gentamicin, and particularly tetracycline, was associated with slow improvement. Mycoplasma hominis should be considered as a cause of respiratory disease and fever in neonates.