Mycoplasma pneumoniae: delayed re-emergence after COVID-19 pandemic restrictions

Abstract

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a common cause of respiratory tract infections with community-acquired pneumonia as the major disease-related burden. Compared with other pathogens, M pneumoniae is atypical in many ways: it is one of the smallest self-replicating organisms, has a reduced and highly stable genome (0·8 Mbp), lacks a cell wall, grows slowly (generation time 6 h), requires close contact for transmission, and has a distinct disease presentation (atypical pneumonia), the pathogenesis of which might involve host cell-mediated immunity.