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Updated: Aug 22, 2026

Antigen-Capture Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Specific Detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae
06:04

Antigen-Capture Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Specific Detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Published on: February 24, 2023

Clinical characteristics of possible Mycoplasma pneumoniae-associated meningoencephalitis in adults

Young Ho Lee1, Hyeri Seok1, Doo Ryeon Chung1

  • 1Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Journal of Infection and Public Health
|August 20, 2026
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Mycoplasma pneumoniae can cause meningoencephalitis in adults, presenting an intermediate inflammatory profile. While mortality is low, neurological issues are common, and serologic subgroups influence inflammation and treatment but not overall outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Clinical Medicine

Background:

  • Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a pathogen that can cause central nervous system (CNS) infections.
  • Meningoencephalitis, inflammation of the brain and meninges, can be associated with M. pneumoniae.
  • Characterizing clinical presentations and outcomes is crucial for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To define the clinical characteristics of adults with possible M. pneumoniae-associated meningoencephalitis.
  • To investigate if serologic diagnostic categories correlate with specific clinical phenotypes or prognosis.
  • To understand the inflammatory and imaging findings in these patients.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective, single-center cohort study from March 2005 to July 2023.
  • Included 184 adults with meningoencephalitis; 39 met criteria for possible M. pneumoniae-associated meningoencephalitis based on serology.
  • Patients were stratified into seroconversion, IgM-positive, and single high-titer subgroups.

Main Results:

  • Median age was 40 years; subgroups differed in age and CSF leukocyte counts.
  • Brain MRI showed abnormalities in 78.9% (leptomeningeal enhancement in 55.3%); EEG abnormalities in 35.9%.
  • Neurologic sequelae occurred in 28.2% despite low 90-day mortality (2.6%).

Conclusions:

  • M. pneumoniae meningoencephalitis presents an intermediate inflammatory and imaging phenotype between bacterial and viral CNS infections.
  • Neurologic sequelae are frequent despite low mortality rates.
  • Serologic subgroups showed variations in inflammatory profiles and treatment but did not significantly impact major clinical outcomes.
Keywords:
Blood-brain barrierDrug resistanceFluoroquinolonesNeuroinflammationTreatment outcome

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