What is Mycoplasma

Mycoplasma is a relatively small microorganism without a cell wall. It is widely present in the bodies of humans and animals. Under normal circumstances, it does not cause disease. When a person's immunity is relatively poor, or when some mycoplasmas that are pathogenic to humans enter the human body, it will cause the occurrence of diseases, which will cause great harm to the patient's lungs, reproductive organs, and lungs.

What is Mycoplasma

Gram staining is negative, but it is not easy to stain. It is usually stained with Giemsa and dyed light purple. Mycoplasmas reproduce mainly by binary fission, but can also reproduce by budding, branching into filaments which then break into club-shaped particles. Most mycoplasmas reproduce more slowly than bacteria. The suitable growth temperature is 35°C and the optimum pH is 7.8-8.0. When cultured on solid culture medium, it forms typical "fried egg" shaped colonies. Mycoplasma has weak resistance and is sensitive to heat and dryness, 75% ethanol and coal phenol soap solution, erythromycin, tetracycline, spiramycin, streptomycin, kanamycin and other drugs, but is insensitive to penicillin antibiotics.

Pathogenic mycoplasmas are weakly pathogenic and generally do not invade the blood, but they can bind to host cells through adhesion, obtain lipids and cholesterol from the cell membrane, and damage the cell membrane. Ureaplasma urealyticum can decompose urea to release large amounts of ammonia, which is toxic to cells.

Main pathogenic mycoplasmas 1. Mycoplasma pneumoniae Mycoplasma pneumoniae is the pathogen that causes mycoplasma pneumonia, and can also cause upper respiratory tract infections and chronic bronchitis. It is mainly transmitted through the respiratory tract and can occur throughout the year, but is more common in late summer and early autumn. The incidence rate is higher in people aged 1 to 15 years old. The symptoms are mild, including irregular fever, headache, and irritating cough. Sometimes, instead of bronchopneumonia, some patients may develop complications outside the respiratory tract, such as rash, cardiovascular and neurological symptoms. Isolation culture, serological tests, etc. are commonly used in clinical examination. 2. Other mycoplasmas Ureaplasma urealyticum, Mycoplasma hominis, and Mycoplasma genitalium are pathogens that cause human urogenital tract infections. They are transmitted through sexual contact, causing urogenital tract infections such as urethritis and prostatitis. They can also be transmitted through the placenta, causing premature birth, spontaneous abortion, congenital malformations, stillbirth, and infertility. Infection through the birth canal can cause neonatal pneumonia or meningitis.

<<: How long does mycoplasma treatment take?

>>: Can mycoplasma infection be cured by taking medicine?