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New concepts of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections in children
Author(s) -
Waites Ken B.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
pediatric pulmonology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.866
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1099-0496
pISSN - 8755-6863
DOI - 10.1002/ppul.10346
Subject(s) - pavilion , medicine , library science , citation , history , computer science , archaeology
The year 2002 marked the fortieth anniversary of the first published report describing the isolation and characterization of Mycoplasma pneumoniae as the etiologic agent of primary atypical pneumonia by Chanock et al. Lack of understanding regarding the basic biology of mycoplasmas and the inability to readily detect them in persons with respiratory disease has led to many misunderstandings about their role as human pathogens. Formerly, infections by Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) were considered to occur mainly in children, adolescents, and young adults, and to be infrequent, confined to the respiratory tract, and largely self-limiting. Outcome data from children and adults with community-acquired pneumonias (CAP) proven to be due toMP provided evidence that it is time to change these misconceived notions. Development of powerful molecular-based tests such as the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay, coupled with traditional diagnostic approaches using serology and culture, have shed new light on the characteristics of MP in respiratory disease of children and adults. This review is intended to provide a concise summary of the basic biology of MP, how it produces disease, its epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment, with emphasis on pediatric infections.