Eurofins Biomnis code

MYPBM

Synonyms

• Mycoplasma

Specialty

Infectious

Clinical significance

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a small and wall-less bacterium that develops intracellularly. M. pneumoniae is mainly responsible for upper respiratory infections (rhinopharyngitis, tracheitis, acute bronchitis), which are common in children and young adults living in institutions. In 3 to 10% of cases, these bronchial infections develop into ""atypical"" pneumonitis. More rarely, extra-respiratory infections occur: cardiac (pericarditis), neurological (encephalitis) or mucocutaneous (erythema multiforme and Stevens Johnson syndrome, often involving mucous membranes). Conventional bacteriological diagnosis is difficult due to the fragility of the germ and its metabolic requirements. Diagnosis may be serological (usually retrospective), either by the discovery of a seroconversion or by that of a high significant titre. Detection of IgM antibodies may indicate recent infection, but the sensitivity of serology remains low. Currently, the detection of bacterial DNA by PCR, mainly from respiratory samples, is highly effective in terms of sensitivity, specificity and speed of result delivery.

Preanalytics

• Nasopharyngeal swabs, nasopharyngeal aspirates, BAL, sputum, CSF, pericardial fluid, joint fluid, biopsies (pulmonary, vascular, cardiac)
•   Refrigerated

• A tube specifically for this analysis : No

Further information

[To be translated]
The use of the S14UK transport bag is Mandatory.
Samples (other than swabs) must be sent as they are, in sterile bottles, without transport medium.

Specific equipment available

• S14: Special mycobacteria transport bags are to be used

Documents to download

• information note (N23-INTGB)

Methodology

Real-time PCR

Turnaround time

3 days