Donor-to-Host Transmission of Mycoplasma hominis in Lung Allograft Recipients

• Published in: Clinical infectious diseases Vol. 22; no. 3; pp. 567 - 568
• Main Authors: Gass, Rebekah, Fisher, James, Badesch, David, Zamora, Martin, Weinberg, Adriana, Melsness, Heather, Grover, Frederick, Tully, Joseph G., Fang, Ferric C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL The University of Chicago Press 01.03.1996; University of Chicago Press
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Antimicrobials; Biological and medical sciences; Blood plasma; Disease transmission; Homologous transplantation; Humans; Infections; Lung Diseases - drug therapy; Lung Diseases - microbiology; Lung Diseases - physiopathology; Lung Transplantation - adverse effects; Lungs; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Mycoplasma - isolation & purification; Mycoplasma hominis; Mycoplasma Infections - drug therapy; Mycoplasma Infections - microbiology; Mycoplasma Infections - physiopathology; Mycoplasma Infections - transmission; Neutrophils; Organ donation; Pathogens; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the respiratory system; Transplantation, Homologous; Human; Mycoplasma hominis; Lung; Transmission; Transplantation; Homotransplantation; Mycoplasmataceae; Infection; Mollicutes; Case study; Mycoplasmatales; Donor; Surgery; Bacteriosis; Bacteria; Complication
• ISSN: 1058-4838; 1537-6591
• DOI: 10.1093/clinids/22.3.567

Mycoplasma hominis is a significant pathogen in immunocompromised hosts, particularly organ transplant recipients. We describe two recipients of lung allografts from the same donor who had M. hominis pleuropulmonary infection during the immediate postoperative period. The most likely source of infection in these cases was the donor's respiratory tract. The slow-growing pinpoint colonies formed by M. hominis on routine bacterial culture medium may be easily overlooked and should be subcultured to mycoplasmal medium for definitive identification. The recommended management of this infection consists of drainage and antimicrobial therapy with tetracycline, clindamycin, or a fluoroquinolone. This report highlights the potential for M. hominis to be transmitted from donor to recipient during organ transplantation.