Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma n Mollicutes is subdivided into

Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma n. Mollicutes is subdivided into five families n 200 species nfive species are associated with human disease n. Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma n Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma organisms are the smallest free-living bacteria n they do not have a cell wall n sterols n form pleomorphic filaments n 0. 1 to 0. 3 μm

Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma binary fission n grow on artificial cell-free media n both RNA and DNA n Mycoplasmas are facultatively anaerobic (except M. pneumoniae, which is a strict aerobe) n

Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma fried-egg appearance n major antigenic determinants are membrane glycolipids and proteins n M. pneumoniae is an extracellular pathogen n adheres to the respiratory epithelium n

Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma

Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma Acts as superantigen n Worldwide disease with no seasonal incidence n Children between ages 5 and 15 years n Transmitted by inhalation n Strict human pathogen n

Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma n n n Epidemic disease occurs every 4 to 8 years Nasal secretions spread M. pneumoniae infection partially immune from previous exposure 15% of sexually active men and women colonized with M. Hominis 45% to 75% colonized with Ureaplasma

Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma n n mild upper respiratory tract disease Low-grade fever, malaise, headache, and a dry, nonproductive cough Symptoms gradually worsen over the next few days and can persist for 2 weeks or longer More severe disease with lower respiratory less than 10% of patients

Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma n n primary atypical pneumonia with a patchy bronchopneumonia myalgias and gastrointestinal tract symptoms are uncommon otitis media, erythema multiforme (Stevens. Johnson syndrome), hemolytic anemia, myocarditis, pericarditis, and neurologic abnormalities

Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma n n n n M. genitalium and U. urealyticum can cause nongonococcal urethritis M. hominis implicated as a cause of pyelonephritis, pelvic inflammatory disease, postpartum fever recovery of the bacteria from specimens from infected patients a serologic response to the organism clinical improvement after treatment with specific antibiotics demonstration of disease in animal models combination of these findings

Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma Microscopy not useful n Culture slow n Molecular diagnosis n Serology n o Complement fixation o Enzyme immunoassays o Cold agglutinin

Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma n n n Erythromycin, tetracycline (or doxycycline ), and newer fluoroquinolones Erythromycin is used to treat Ureaplasma infections, because these organisms are resistant to tetracycline M. hominis is resistant to erythromycin and occasionally to the tetracyclines. Clindamycin has been used to treat infections caused by these resistant strains.