Chlamydia pneumoniae and Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Semin Respir Crit Care Med. 2005 Dec;26(6):617-24. doi: 10.1055/s-2005-925525.

Abstract

Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection occurs worldwide and is the most common cause of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in 5- to 20-year-olds. The most reliable diagnostic test is the enzyme immunoassay, which allows immunoglobulin (Ig)G and IgM titration and presents 92% sensitivity and 95% specificity on paired samples. Potentially active drugs are tetracyclines, macrolides, ketolides, lincosamides, streptogamines, chloramphenicol, and fluoroquinolones. Chlamydia pneumoniae accounts for 6 to 20% of CAP cases, depending on several factors such as setting of the studied population, age group examined, and diagnostic methods used. The current gold standard for serological diagnosis of acute infection is microimmunofluorescence testing. Tetracyclines and erythromycin show good in vitro activity and so far have been the most commonly employed drugs in the treatment of C. pneumoniae infection. New macrolides, ketolides, and new fluoroquinolones are other potentially effective drugs.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Chlamydia Infections / diagnosis*
  • Chlamydia Infections / drug therapy
  • Chlamydia Infections / epidemiology
  • Chlamydophila pneumoniae / drug effects
  • Chlamydophila pneumoniae / immunology*
  • Community-Acquired Infections / diagnosis*
  • Community-Acquired Infections / drug therapy
  • Community-Acquired Infections / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Immunoenzyme Techniques
  • Mycoplasma pneumoniae / drug effects
  • Mycoplasma pneumoniae / immunology*
  • Pneumonia, Bacterial / diagnosis*
  • Pneumonia, Bacterial / drug therapy
  • Pneumonia, Bacterial / microbiology
  • Pneumonia, Mycoplasma / diagnosis*
  • Pneumonia, Mycoplasma / drug therapy
  • Pneumonia, Mycoplasma / epidemiology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents