title: Severe Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia.
abstract: Four cases of severe Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection are reported which were treated in a single hospital over the course of 4 years. The difficulties in the diagnosis of M. pneumoniae infections are eminently demonstrated by these cases. Because of the fact that it generally takes 2-o weeks to make this diagnosis, the physician must utilize clues of limited reliability. If gram stains and culture of sputum fail to demonstrate any bacterial pathogen and the patient has a chest X-ray compatible with this diagnosis as well as a white blood count less than 15,000/mm3, M. pneumoniae infection may be present. A good antimicrobial choice in such  a situation is erythromycin.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003168:Complement Fixation Tests; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009174:Mycoplasma / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000150:complications; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D011859:Radiography; D012121:Respiration, Artificial
chemical_list: D004917:Erythromycin