Cell Wall-Deficient Bacteria: Mycoplasma and

Ureaplasma

Mycoplasma

Mycoplasma pneumoniae
 M. pneumoniae is a prominent cause of
pneumonia, especially in persons 5-20
years of age.
 M pneumoniae is transmitted from person to
person by means of
 infected respiratory secretions. Infection is
initiated by attachment of the organism's tip
to a receptor
 on the surface of respiratory epithelial cells
(Figure 25-1). Attachment is mediated by a
specific adhesin protein on the
 differentiated terminal structure of the
organism.
 During infection, the organisms remain
extracellular.


Epidemiology

Laboratory Diagnosis, Treatment and
Prevention
 diagnosis of M pneumoniae pneumonia is
largely made by the clinical recognition of
the syndrome.
 A sputum Gram stain is of value in not
suggesting some other bacterial
 pathogen (eg, S pneumoniae).
 Cold hemagglutinins for group O human
erythrocytes.
 EIA to detect immunoglobulin M (IgM) and
IgG antibodies.
 PCR assays
Mycoplasma hominis
Mycoplasma genitalium
 was originally isolated from urethral cultures
of two men with nongonococcal urethritis.
 M genitalium in men is associated with
some cases of acute as well as chronic
nongonococcal urethritis.
 In women, M genitalium has been
associated with a variety of infections.
Ureaplasma urealyticum
 aka T-strain of mycoplasma.
 like M hominis, has been associated with a
variety of diseases but is a demonstrated
cause in only a few of them
 It has ability to metabolize urea.
 It has been recovered from genital tract of
healthy adult.
 It has be recovered from nose and throat of
infants.
 They cause Invasive disease in
immunosuppressed patients
(agammaglobulinemia); also prostatitis,
bacterial vaginosis and non gonococcal
urethritis.
 Colonization among infants occur during
passage through an infected birth canal.
Mycoplasma genitalium
 was originally isolated from urethral cultures of
two men with nongonococcal urethritis.
 M genitalium in men is associated with some
cases of acute as well as chronic nongonococcal
urethritis.
 In women, M genitalium has been associated
with a variety of infections.
Ureaplasma urealyticum

 aka T-strain of mycoplasma.

 like M hominis, has been associated with a
variety of diseases but is a demonstrated cause
in only a few of them
 It has ability to metabolize urea.
 It has been recovered from genital tract of
healthy adult.
 It has be recovered from nose and throat of
infants.
 They cause Invasive disease in
immunosuppressed patients
(agammaglobulinemia); also prostatitis,
bacterial vaginosis and non gonococcal Culture
urethritis.
 Culture media: Beef or soybean protein with
 Colonization among infants occur during
serum, fresh yeast extract; Biphasic SP-4, PPLO
passage through an infected birth canal.
broth or agar with yeast extract and horse
serum, and Modified New York City Medium