Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma in Clinical Specimens
Continuing Education Credits
This course describes the significance, epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of medically important Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma infections in humans.
Objectives
- Describe the general characteristics of cell wall-deficient Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma bacteria.
- Explain the classifications of Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma, limited to M. pneumoniae, M. genitalium, M. hominis, U. parvum, and U. urealyticum.
- Explain the etiology (cause of disease); pathogenesis (mechanism of disease); and transmission of these cell wall-deficient microorganisms as agents of disease in humans.
- Describe the clinical significance and epidemiology of disease concerning these microorganisms.
- Discuss collection and transport, as well as special laboratory testing procedures for the diagnosis of disease concerning these cell wall-deficient microorganisms.
- Describe and discuss treatment (susceptibility patterns) for Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma infections.
Course Outline
- General Characteristics of Cell Wall-Deficient Bacteria
- Cell Wall-deficient Bacteria
- Which statement is true regarding cell wall-deficient bacteria?
- The use of specific media formulations can yield the growth of a cell wall-deficient colony that appears as:
- Classification of Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma
- Classification
- Regarding the classification of the cell wall-deficient bacteria - select the true statement:
- At this time, the medically important cell wall-deficient bacteria include all of the following, except:
- Etiology, Pathogenesis, and Transmission
- Etiology
- Pathogenesis
- Transmission
- Etiology is a word used to describe:
- In pathogenesis - the disease-causing mycoplasmas possess an ability to do all of the following, except:
- In the Mollicutes, transmission to humans occurs primarily through which of the following? Select the best answer:
- Clinical Significance and Epidemiology
- Clinical Significance
- Epidemiology
- Mycoplasma pneumoniae is well-known for causing:
- Serious M. pneumoniae infections may occur in:
- True or False: Ureaplasma parvum is known as "atypical pneumoniae" in cases of community-acquired pneumoniae.
- Diagnosis of Infection: Collection, Transport, and Test Methods
- Specimen Collection
- Specimen Transport and Storage
- Staining
- Culture
- Special Test Methods and Limitations
- Susceptibility Test Methods
- Regarding collection (and dependent on the method of detection used), which general statement is false?
- Regarding specimen storage - choose the correct (true) statement from the following choices:
- Regarding special testing procedures - All of the following statements are true, except:
- Treatment and Recent Developments
- Susceptibility Patterns and Treatment of Infections
- Recent Developments
- Most of the Mollicutes are resistant to which antibiotics?
- True or False: Emergence of multidrug-resistant mycoplasmas and ureaplasmas has been identified in immunocompromised patients.
- Regarding a newly developed immuno-chromatographic assay for M. pneumoniae, which answer choice is true?
- References
- References
Additional Information
Level of Instruction: Basic to Intermediate
Intended Audience: Medical laboratory scientists and medical laboratory technicians. This course is also appropriate for medical laboratory science students and pathology residents.
Author Information: Dr. Julie Ann West is certified by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) as a Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS) and as a Specialist in Microbiology (SM). In addition, Dr. West has earned a PhD in Public Health - Epidemiology Specialization (emphasis on infectious disease) - and is Certified in Public Health (CPH) by the National Board of Public Health Examiners. Dr. West is experienced as a Technical Specialist, Safety Officer, Educator, and Lead in the Veterans Administration Healthcare System, and has prior experience as an Administrative Laboratory Director.
Reviewer Information: Christine Mayambala, PhD, is certified by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) as a Medical Laboratory Scientist (MLS). She has earned a PhD in Public Health - Epidemiology Specialization. Dr. Mayambala is experienced as a Generalist and Molecular Technologist. At present, Dr. Mayambala teaches pre-nursing and medical laboratory technology at a community college in Metro Atlanta.
Course Description: This course describes the significance, epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of medically important Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma infections in humans.