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Mycoplasma Clinical Treatment

Mycoplasma are the smallest free-living organisms known to infect human beings. These types of organisms are also called pleuropneumonia-like organisms (aidsinfobbs.org, 2009). These organisms can cause a number of illnesses similar to viruses. However, mycoplasma are different from viruses because they are able to reproduce freely inside the body of their host. Anyone is capable of getting the disease. However, infections caused by these organisms generally occur in older children or young adults (New York State Department of Health, 1995).

  1. Mycoplasma Diseases

    • Mycoplasma cause a number of diseases. These diseases can be transferred from person to person in a number of different ways. However, the most common way to spread mycoplasma is through the sputum of an infected person. Symptoms of mycoplasma infections vary depending on the type of infection that has occurred. The most common illnesses caused from a mycoplasma infection are pneumonia, or "walking pneumonia", and urinary tract infections (New York State Department of Health, 1995). The first step in clinical treatment is to diagnosis the mycoplasmic disease by a medical evaluation of symptoms, and a blood test or urine test.

    Pneumonia

    • Pneumonia caused by mycoplasma is nicknamed "walking pneumonia" because, under normal circumstances, mycoplasma infections do not cause pneumonia that warrants hospitalization. Symptoms are normally mild except in patients with low immune systems (New York State Department of Health, 1995). Pneumonia symptoms vary, but the most common symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, sweating, shaking chills, chest pain when breathing, headache, muscle pain, and fatigue (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2009a). Antiobiotics are the best treatment for pneumonia caused by mycoplasma infection. However, most pneumonia caused by these agents goes without treatment because symptoms produced by mycoplasma-induced pneumonia resemble the symptoms of a severe chest cold. Left untreated, the affected person will completely recover over a period of approximately 10 weeks. Even when treated with antibiotics, recovery can take that long as well (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2009a).

    Urinary Tract Infection

    • The urinary system includes parts of the body including the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. An infection of the urinary tract, or UTI, can be present in any part of the urinary system, but is more prevalent in the urethra and the bladder. Men and women can both develop UTIs, but women are more susceptible to this type of infection. UTIs needs to be taken care of as soon as they are diagnosed because if left untreated, the infection travels to the kidneys and can create serious health problems (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2009b). Some UTIs are caused by mycoplasma infections. Antiobiotics must be prescribed to effectively treat a UTI. Typically a UTI will not resolve by itself and it can recur once treated. For recurring UTIs, a physician will prescribe longer doses of antibiotics to rid the body of infection (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2009b).

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