[Streptococcus pyogenes and Mycoplasma pneumoniae: pulmonary coinfection or serologic artefact?].
BACKGROUND
How should Mycoplasma pneumoniae seroconversion be interpreted in a patient with community-acquired Streptococcus pyogenes pneumonia?


METHODS
A 21-year-old man with cerebral palsy was hospitalized with acute pneumonia and fever. The bronchoalveolar lavage fluid contained Streptococcus pyogenes, and serological testing for Mycoplasma pneumoniae was positive. At 4 weeks, measurements of anti-M. pneumoniae and antistreptolysin O antibodies were positive.


CONCLUSIONS
Two hypotheses should be considered: the patient has either a coinfection of S. pyogenes and M. pneumoniae or a nonspecific antibody response during a severe S. pyogenes infection.
Corne
Philippe
P
Service de réanimation médicale-assistance respiratoire, Hôpital Gui de Chauliac, 80, av. Augustin Fliche, 34295 Montpellier 5. p-corne@chu-montpellier.fr
Grieu
Thibaut
T
Olivier
Jonquet
J
D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D016477:Artifacts; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011019:Pneumonia, Mycoplasma / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011018:Pneumonia, Pneumococcal / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012698:Serologic Tests; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000276:immunology
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial