MYCOPLASMA-PNEUMONIAE AS A COFACTOR IN SEVERE RESPIRATORY-INFECTIONS

We report the clinical events associated with severe bacterial or vira l infections in four patients whose illnesses followed or coincided wi th acute Mycoplasma pneumoniae respiratory infection. We propose that M. pneumoniae has the ability to act as a cofactor in severe respirato ry disease by facilitating alterations in local respiratory immunity o r structure and function.