Mycoplasmal Pneumonia Treatment & Management

  • Author: Michael Joseph Bono, MD, FACEP; Chief Editor: Robert E O'Connor, MD, MPH   more...
 
Updated: Mar 29, 2011
 

Approach Considerations

Mycoplasmal pneumonia should be considered as a possible etiology in any patient who presents with 3 weeks or more of a steadily progressive cough. Patients are usually not critically ill but seek relief from the persistent, worsening cough. Occasionally, various pulmonary and extrapulmonary complications may occur and may require emergent attention.

Antibiotic prophylaxis for exposed contacts is not routinely recommended. However, macrolide or doxycycline prophylaxis should be used in households in which patients with underlying conditions may be predisposed to severe mycoplasmal infection, such as those with sickle cell disease or antibody deficiencies.

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Medical Management

If patients with pneumonia due to M pneumoniae require admission, use of standard and droplet precautions are recommended for the duration of the illness. Supportive therapy and antimicrobial administration are the mainstays of treatment (See Medication).

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Complications

The following are complications of mycoplasmal pneumonia:

Extremely rare extrapulmonary complications include the following:

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Michael Joseph Bono, MD, FACEP  Professor of Emergency Medicine, Associate Director of Emergency Medicine Residency Program, Department of Emergency Medicine, Eastern Virginia Medical School

Michael Joseph Bono, MD, FACEP is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Emergency Physicians, American Heart Association, Medical Society of Virginia, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Joseph A Salomone III, MD  Associate Professor and Attending Staff, Truman Medical Centers, University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine; EMS Medical Director, Kansas City, Missouri

Joseph A Salomone III, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine, National Association of EMS Physicians, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine

Disclosure: eMedicine Salary Employment

Paul Blackburn, DO, FACOEP, FACEP  Program Director, Department of Emergency Medicine, Maricopa Medical Center; Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, University of Arizona College of Medicine

Paul Blackburn, DO, FACOEP, FACEP is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians, American Medical Association, and Arizona Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Robert E O'Connor, MD, MPH  Professor and Chair, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Virginia Health System

Robert E O'Connor, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Physician Executives, American Heart Association, American Medical Association, Medical Society of Delaware, National Association of EMS Physicians, Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, and Wilderness Medical Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References

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Diagram of the Mollicutes class, to which the Mycoplasma genus belongs.
 
 
 
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