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Open Access Case report

Mycoplasma hominis necrotizing pleuropneumonia in a previously healthy adolescent

Andres Pascual1,2*†, Marie-Helene Perez2†, Katia Jaton4, Gaudenz Hafen3, Stefano Di Bernardo3, Jacques Cotting2, Gilbert Greub1,4 and Bernard Vaudaux1,3

Author Affiliations

1 Infectious Diseases Service, Department of Medicine, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland

2 Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland

3 Pediatric Service, Department of Pediatrics, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland

4 Institute of Microbiology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois and University of Lausanne, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland

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BMC Infectious Diseases 2010, 10:335 doi:10.1186/1471-2334-10-335

Published: 24 November 2010

Abstract

Background

Mycoplasma hominis is a fastidious micro-organism causing systemic infections in the neonate and genital infections in the adult. It can also be the cause of serious extra-genital infections, mainly in immunosuppressed or predisposed subjects.

Case Presentation

We describe a case of severe pneumonia and pericarditis due to Mycoplasma hominis in a previously healthy adolescent who did not respond to initial therapy.

Conclusions

Mycoplasma hominis could be an underestimated cause of severe pneumonia in immunocompetent patients and should be particularly suspected in those not responding to standard therapy.