title: [Pathogenesis and laboratory diagnosis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections].
abstract: Mycoplasma pneumoniae is the only mycoplasma clearly involved in respiratory tract infections in man. Implicated most often in tracheobronchitis, it is the second most frequent agent responsible for community-wide bacterial pneumonia, and in addition it probably causes asthma exacerbations. M. pneumoniae infection occurs endemically, with epidemic peaks every four to seven years, mostly in children above five years of age. The laboratory diagnosis of these infections, mainly by serology, is made only in severe cases because of the fastidious growth of this microorganism. M. pneumoniae can, however, be detected easily by molecular amplification techniques. Macrolides and related antibiotics are considered the treatment of choice for M. pneumoniae infection in both adults and children. Antibiotic sensitivity testing of M. pneumoniae is not done routinely because resistant isolates have only rarely been described, the results are delayed, and they have no immediate therapeutic consequence.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de bactériologie EA 3671, infections humaines à mycoplasmes et à chlamydiae, centre national de référence des infections à chlamydiae, CHU de Bordeaux, université Victor-Segalen-Bordeaux-2, France. cecile.bebear@u-bordeaux2.fr
authors.forename: C-M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Bébéar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D003168:Complement Fixation Tests; D006224:Cricetinae; D003470:Culture Media; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D018942:Macrolides / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051379:Mice; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009177:Mycoplasma pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002679:Pan troglodytes; D011019:Pneumonia, Mycoplasma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D003470:Culture Media; D018942:Macrolides