Get the Facts on Mycoplasma pneumoniae

X-Rays May Only Detect 30% of Positives1

No distinctive X-Ray pattern of Mycoplasma pneumoniae has been found and marked differences exist in its radiographic appearance.2

“Often, Mycoplasma pneumoniae may not be detectable by physical exam alone and the pulmonary infiltrates can be significant even if a patient doesn’t appear very sick. If pneumonia is suspected, an X-Ray shows it’s there, then it’s appropriate to test for Mycoplasma pneumoniae to confirm the diagnosis.”

Serology May Only Detect 25% of Positives in The First Week3

Serology measures a patient’s immune response which may take time to develop, leading to false negatives early on in an infection.

“Serology has only been done because no other options have existed, now with molecular testing this is no longer true and use of a single IgM serology test should be discontinued.”

- Ken B. Waites, M.D., F(AAM)

Professor of Pathology; Director, Diagnostic Mycoplasma Laboratory, University of Alabama at Birmingham; Microbiology Consultant and Staff Pathologist, Birmingham Veterans Affairs Medical Center

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References
1. Graffelman, A. W., Willemssen, F. E., Zonderland, H. M., et al. Limited value of chest radiography in predicting aetiology of lower respiratory tract infection in general practice. The British Journal of General Practice, 58.547 (2008): 93–97. 2. Medjo, B., Atanaskovic-Markovic, M., Radic, S., et al. Mycoplasma pneumoniae as a causative agent of community-acquired pneumonia in children: clinical features and laboratory diagnosis. Italian Journal of Pediatrics. 40.104 (2014). 3. Nilsson, A.C., Björkman, P., and Persson, K.. Polymerase chain reaction is superior to serology for the diagnosis of acute Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection and reveals a high rate of persistent infection. BMC Microbiology 8.1 (2008): 93.