MYCOPLASMA-HOMINIS PNEUMONIA IN ABORIGINAL ADULTS

Mycoplasma hominis (M. hominis) is a well recognized extragenital path ogen. Its role as a pathogen of the respiratory tract, however, remain s difficult to determine. Four cases of pneumonia are presented in whi ch M. hominis was isolated from blood, tracheal aspirates or post-mort em lung tissue. All 4 of these isolates were in young Aboriginal adult males. M. hominis is the least fastidious of the human mycoplasmas an d grows well on most blood-containing bacteriological media. The recog nition and identification of M. hominis is important as it is commonly resistant to erythromycin which would be the drug of choice in most a typical pneumonias. Early recognition and treatment with tetracycline instead may influence outcome.