What is Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is an important pathogenic mycoplasma that causes respiratory tract infections. 1. Size and morphology: Mycoplasma pneumoniae is 0.2~0.3um in size, the outermost layer of the bacterium is a cell membrane, no cell wall, containing cholesterol, and it is spherical, branched or granular and other forms. 2. Reproduction mode: Mycoplasma pneumoniae mainly reproduces in a binary fission mode, splitting one generation in 1~6 hours, and grows slowly. 3. Living environment: Mycoplasma pneumoniae is an absolute aerobic microorganism. 4. Resistance: not dry, heat-resistant, cold-resistant; Sensitive to acids and organic solvents and substances that can act on sterols; Resistant to alkali, thallium acetate, crystal violet; Resistance to β lactam antibiotics; Sensitive to antibiotics that interfere with protein synthesis.5. Pathogenic substance: adhesion factor P1 protein, which is the most important virulence factor; capsule, which has anti-phagocytic effect and is toxic; Toxic metabolites that can cause pathological damage to host mucosal epithelial cells. 6. Source of infection: patients or carriers. 7. Mode of transmission: droplet transmission. 8. Symptoms of infection: most of them have no symptoms, or only mild symptoms, manifested as headache, fever, cough, etc., and a few can cause severe mycoplasma pneumonia. Occasionally, extrarespiratory complications such as cardiovascular symptoms, neurological symptoms, and rashes may occur.