Mycoplasma pneumoniae as a cofactor in severe respiratory infections.
We report the clinical events associated with severe bacterial or viral infections in four patients whose illnesses followed or coincided with acute Mycoplasma pneumoniae respiratory infection. We propose that M. pneumoniae has the ability to act as a cofactor in severe respiratory disease by facilitating alterations in local respiratory immunity or structure and function.
Cimolai
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N
Department of Pathology, British Columbia's Children's Hospital, Vancouver, Canada.
Wensley
D
D
Seear
M
M
Thomas
E T
ET
D000258:Adenovirus Infections, Human / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008589:Meningococcal Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology; D009177:Mycoplasma pneumoniae / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D011019:Pneumonia, Mycoplasma / Q000150:complications*; D011024:Pneumonia, Viral / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology; D018357:Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes