Tuberc Respir Dis.  2007 Dec;63(6):515-520.

2 Cases of Mycoplasma pneumoniae Infection with Severe Pneumonia

• Kim ST
• Lee SN
• Lee SJ
• Jung PM
• Park HJ
• Shin MS
• Kim CW
• Lee BG
• Kim SH
• Lee WY
• Shin KC
• Yong SJ

Abstract

Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae) is the leading cause of pneumonia in older children and young adults. Normally, it does not progress to a condition requiring hospitalization but improves spontaneously or has a mild clinical course. We report two cases of M. pneumoniae pneumonia with different clinical manifestations from the normal course. The patients were young healthy individuals. The diagnoses were made by serology. However, it could not be determined beforehand that they had M. pneumoniae pneumonia. Based on the empirical treatment strategy of severe community acquired pneumonia, the patients were treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics including cephalosporin, quinolone and macrolide. After administering the antibiotics, they showed a gradually favorable clinical course and recovered without residual complications. A M. pneumoniae infection should be considered as a cause of severe community acquired pneumonia, and empirical treatment targeting this organism might be helpful in treating patients with the severe manifestation.

Keyword

Mycoplasma pneumoniae; Severe pneumonia; Quinolone; Macrolide

MeSH Terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents
Child
Diagnosis
Hospitalization
Humans
Mycoplasma pneumoniae*
Mycoplasma*
Pneumonia*
Pneumonia, Mycoplasma*
Young Adult
Anti-Bacterial Agents

Figure

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  Figure 1 A 29-year-old woman with M. pneumoniae pneumonia. Chest radiograph at admission reveals bilateral, patch and lobar consolidation in right upper and left lower lung field (A). Chest CT scan, 2 days later, shows muti-focal consolidation (B). Follow up chest radiograph, 3days later, shows more extensive bilateral consolidation (C). Follow up chest radiograph, 9 days later, shows nearly complete resolution (D).

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  Figure 2 A 29-year-old man with M. pneumoniae pneumonia. Chest radiograph at admission reveals bilateral, patch and lobar consolidation in right lower and left upper lung field (A). Chest CT scan shows muti-focal lobar consolidation, mainly in right lower lobe, with pleural effusion (B). Fiberoptic bronchoscopy shows ulcerative lesion covered with necrotic exudation on the posterior wall of trachea (C). Follow up chest radiograph, 3days later, shows more aggravated consolidation (D). Follow up chest radiograph, 13 days later, shows improved state (E).

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