Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia following assisted ventilation.
BACKGROUND
Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia is regarded as a community-acquired pneumonia, rarely requiring hospitalization, with sporadic cases or limited outbreaks occurring after close contacts with an infected patient. Few reports mention M pneumoniae pneumonia acquired during hospitalization.


METHODS
M pneumoniae was diagnosed in patients who developed pneumonia following perioperative and postoperative assisted ventilation by the isolation of M pneumoniae from bronchial washing, the detection of M pneumoniae DNA from bronchial washing, and serologic testing for the presence of specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies.


RESULTS
Four patients were diagnosed as having M pneumoniae pneumonia following mechanical ventilation over a 1 1/2-year period. They were men, older than 50 years, and were hospitalized for vascular surgery. They developed febrile hypoxemia and intersticial pneumonia. Isolation of M pneumoniae and detection of M pneumoniae DNA were positive in 1 case; specific IgM antibodies were present in 4 cases.


CONCLUSIONS
These observations allow the description of a new clinical entity and highlight the role of M pneumoniae as an agent of nosocomial infections. This diagnosis should be considered in any patient with precocious post-assisted ventilation febrile hypoxemia and diffuse interstitial pneumonia, and empiric treatment protocols may include M pneumoniae in their spectrum.
Casalta
J P
JP
Laboratoire de Bactériologie, Hôpital de La Timone, Marseille, France.
Piquet
P
P
Alazia
M
M
Guidon-Attali
C
C
Drancourt
M
M
Raoult
D
D
D000368:Aged; D001483:Base Sequence; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009177:Mycoplasma pneumoniae / Q000235:genetics; D011019:Pneumonia, Mycoplasma / Q000209:etiology*; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000009:adverse effects*