MYCOPLASMA-PNEUMONIAE COMMUNITY-ACQUIRED PNEUMONIA - A REVIEW OF 101 HOSPITALIZED ADULT PATIENTS

The features of community-acquired Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MP -CAP) were assessed in a prospective study of 101 adults who were hosp italized over the course of 1 year, and were compared with 245 patient s who were hospitalized during the same period of time with community- acquired pneumonia (CAP) not caused by M. pneumoniae (non-MP-CAP). MP was the second most common etiology (29.2%) in all CAP patients, and t he most common etiological agent (43.2%) in the 17- to 44-year age gro up. In 65 patients (64.3%) at least one other pathogen was identified for CAP in addition to MP. Although the disease was most prevalent amo ng younger patients, it also involved older and even elderly patients. Compared to non-MP-CAP patients, the severity of disease was signific antly lower on average in the MP-CAP group and the length of hospitali zation was significantly shorter. Radiologic findings were the same in the two groups. Twenty-two MP-CAP patients recovered without receivin g the treatment which is recognized as effective in this disease. We c oncluded that (I) in most patients with MP-CAP a second CAP pathogen c an be identified serologically, (2) MP-CAP cannot be differentiated fr om non-MP-CAP on the basis of clinical, radiologic, or routine laborat ory tests, and (3) in some MP-CAP patients the disease is self-limited , and in these patients the usefulness of standard antibiotic therapy is doubtful.