Fulminant Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia

Abstract

A 64-year-old woman, who was previously in good health was admitted because of progressive respiratory distress. Her chest radiograph revealed bilateral widespread alveolar infiltrates. She was given a diagnosis of pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae serologically, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. She died of multiple organ failure despite intensive therapy with mechanical ventilation, intravenous erythromycin and corticosteroids, continuous hemodiafiltration, and plasma exchange. Although Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection is usually a benign self-limited disease, this case emphasizes its potentially serious nature even in normal healthy individuals.