Mycoplasma hominisnecrotising pneumonia in an immunocompetent adult male

Abstract

Mycoplasma hominis, a common coloniser of the urogenital tract, is a rare cause of respiratory infections in an immunocompetent patient.M. hominislacks a cell wall and can be difficult to identify with standard culture methods posing difficulties in diagnosis and treatment. We describe a case ofM. hominispneumonia in an immunocompetent man in his early 40s without any risk factors presenting with a cavitary lesion who developed empyema and necrotising pneumonia requiring surgical debridement. Identification ofM. hominisand subsequent modification of antibiotic therapy led to favourable outcome.M. hominisshould be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with treatment resistant pneumonia especially in patients with trauma, intracranial injury, lung transplant or if immunocompromised. WhileM. Hominisis naturally resistant to all antibiotics that target cell wall synthesis, we recommend levofloxacin or other fluoroquinolone to most effectively treat with doxycycline as a potential alternative.