Korean J Clin Microbiol.  2010 Sep;13(3):121-124. 10.5145/KJCM.2010.13.3.121.

Importance of Suspicion for the Identification of Mycoplasma in Wound Culture: A Case Report

• Hwang SM
• Yoon IS
• Joo SI
• Yi J
• Kim EC

• KMID: 1461624
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5145/KJCM.2010.13.3.121

Abstract

Genital mycoplasmas are rare in extraintestinal specimens, but can cause disseminated infections in immunocompromised patients and wound infections after surgery or injury. We report two cases of Myoplasma hominis wound infections after lung lobectomy and kidney transplantation, and a case of M. salivarium wound infection after aortic graft replacement. Mycoplasmas grew in aerobic and anaerobic cultures as tiny colonies but were not observed by gram- or acid fast stain and were confirmed by MYCOFAST EvolutioN 2 kit or 16S rRNA sequencing. These cases indicated that mycoplasmas were probably underestimated in wound infections because they were not in suspicion. We suggest that Mycoplasma should be suspected when microorganisms are not readily observable in Gram stains but can be cultured.

Keyword

Mycoplasma hominis; Mycoplasma salivarium; Wound infection

MeSH Terms

Coloring Agents
Immunocompromised Host
Kidney Transplantation
Lung
Mycoplasma
Mycoplasma hominis
Mycoplasma salivarium
Transplants
Wound Infection
Coloring Agents

Reference

1. Miranda C, Camacho E, Reina G, Turiño J, Rodríguez-Granger J, Yeste R, et al. Isolation of Mycoplasma hominis from extragenital cultures. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2005; 24:334–7.

2. Taylor-Robinson D. The role of mycoplasmas in pregnancy outcome. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 2007; 21:425–38.

3. Lee JH, Lee JH, Lee NY, Ha CW, Chung DR, Peck KR. Two cases of septic arthritis by Mycoplasma hominis after total knee replacement arthroplasty. Korean J Lab Med. 2009; 29:135–9.

4. Madoff S and Hooper DC. Nongenitourinary infections caused by Mycoplasma hominis in adults. Rev Infect Dis. 1988; 10:602–13.

5. Engel LD and Kenny GE. Mycoplasma salivarium in human gingival sulci. J Periodontal Res. 1970; 5:163–71.

6. Grisold AJ, Hoenigl M, Leitner E, Jakse K, Feierl G, Raggam RB, et al. Submasseteric abscess caused by Mycoplasma salivarium infection. J Clin Microbiol. 2008; 46:3860–2.

7. So AK, Furr PM, Taylor-Robinson D, Webster AD. Arthritis caused by Mycoplasma salivarium in hypogammaglobulinaemia. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed). 1983; 286:762–3.

8. Meyer RD and Clough W. Extragenital Mycoplasma hominis infections in adults: emphasis on immunosuppression. Clin Infect Dis. 1993; 17(Suppl 1):S243–9.

9. Mattila PS, Carlson P, Sivonen A, Savola J, Luosto R, Salo J, et al. Life-threatening Mycoplasma hominis mediastinitis. Clin Infect Dis. 1999; 29:1529–37.

10. Miranda C, Carazo C, Bañón R, Mendoza J, Montes A, de la Rosa M. Mycoplasma hominis infection in three renal transplant patients. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 1990; 13:329–31.

11. Sielaff TD, Everett JE, Shumway SJ, Wahoff DC, Bolman RM 3rd, Dunn DL. Mycoplasma hominis infections occurring in cardiovascular surgical patients. Ann Thorac Surg. 1996; 61:99–103.

12. Park HR, Kim YH, Lee HJ, Oh JS, Kim HJ. Usefulness of the mycofast test (MYCOFAST(R) Evolution 2) for the diagnosis of nongonococcal genitourinary infections. Korean J Urol. 2006; 47:1117–23.

13. Bayraktar MR, Ozerol IH, Gucluer N, Celik O. Prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility of Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma urealyticum in pregnant women. Int J Infect Dis. 2010; 14:e90–5.

14. Petrikkos GL, Hadjisoteriou M, Daikos GL. PCR versus culture in the detection of vaginal Ureaplasma urealyticum and Mycoplasma hominis. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2007; 97:202–3.