After the beginning of winter, the temperature plummeted, respiratory diseases around the world into the high season, Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection, influenza and other intertwined superimposed. What are the clinical manifestations of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in adults? How to treat it?On 11 December, Chongqing Municipal Health Commission invited Cai Dachuan, director of the Department of Infection of the Second Hospital Affiliated to Chongqing Medical University, to answer the public’s concerns.
What is Mycoplasma pneumoniae?
Mycoplasma pneumoniae is neither a bacterium nor a virus, it is the smallest microorganism between bacteria and viruses that is known to survive on its own. Mycoplasma pneumoniae does not have a cell wall, and is like a bacterium without a “coat”.
How is Mycoplasma pneumoniae spread?
Patients with Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection and asymptomatic infected people are the main source of infection, the incubation period is 1~3 weeks, and it is infectious during the incubation period up to a few weeks after the symptoms have subsided. Mycoplasma pneumoniae is mainly transmitted through direct contact and droplet transmission, and the pathogen can be carried in the secretions from coughing, sneezing, and runny nose.
What are the clinical manifestations of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in adults?
The onset of Mycoplasma pneumoniae is diverse, with most patients having a low-grade fever and fatigue, while some patients may have a sudden onset of high fever accompanied by headache, myalgia, nausea and other symptoms of systemic toxicity. Respiratory symptoms are most prominent in dry cough, which often lasts for more than 4 weeks.
It is often accompanied by obvious sore throat, chest pain and blood in sputum. Among the non-respiratory symptoms, earache, measles-like or scarlet fever-like rash are more common, and very few patients may be accompanied by gastroenteritis, pericarditis, myocarditis and other manifestations.
It is usually detected by the following three methods
1. Mycoplasma pneumoniae culture: it is the “gold standard” for the diagnosis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection, but due to the relatively long time consuming culture of Mycoplasma pneumoniae, it is not carried out as a routine clinical programme.
2. Mycoplasma pneumoniae nucleic acid test: with high sensitivity and specificity, it is suitable for the early diagnosis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Our hospital is currently using this test, which is highly accurate.
3. Mycoplasma pneumoniae antibody measurement: Mycoplasma pneumoniae IgM antibody usually appears 4-5 days after infection, and can be used as a diagnostic indicator of early infection. At present, more hospitals and clinics use the immunocolloid gold method to detect Mycoplasma pneumoniae IgM antibodies, which is suitable for outpatient rapid screening, positive suggests that Mycoplasma pneumoniae is infected, but negative still can not completely exclude Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection.
How to treat Mycoplasma pneumoniae?
If the above symptoms occur, you should go to the hospital as soon as possible to get a clear diagnosis.
Macrolide antibacterial drugs are the first choice of treatment for Mycoplasma pneumoniae, including azithromycin, clarithromycin, erythromycin, roxithromycin, etc.; some patients may need to be adjusted to new tetracycline antibacterial drugs or quinolone antibacterial drugs if they are resistant to macrolides, and it is noted that this kind of drugs is not generally used as routine medication for children.
How can Mycoplasma pneumoniae be prevented?
Mycoplasma pneumoniae is mainly transmitted through direct contact and droplet transmission. Preventive measures include wearing medical face mask, washing hands frequently, ventilating the airways, maintaining good respiratory hygiene, and avoiding close contact with patients with related symptoms.
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Post time: Dec-21-2023