Mykoplasman

Mykoplasman is a name used in medical literature to denote a small, cell-wall-deficient bacterium related to the Mollicutes and similar to Mycoplasma species. Like other mycoplasmas, mykoplasman lacks peptidoglycan in its envelope and is pleomorphic. It relies on host-derived cholesterol to stabilize its membrane and tends to have a minimalist genome, contributing to slow growth in culture.

Its ultra-small size and absence of a rigid cell wall make it intrinsically resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics and to many other drugs that disrupt cell wall synthesis. It requires specialized culture conditions and enriched media, and in laboratory settings growth can be slow and difficult to detect. Transmission is typically via close contact, droplets, or sexual contact, depending on the strain.

In humans and animals, mykoplasman is described in association with respiratory, genital, or systemic infections. Symptoms are often nonspecific and may include cough, fever, dysuria, or malaise. Disease severity ranges from mild to, rarely, life-threatening, particularly in immunocompromised hosts or when disseminated.

Diagnosis relies on molecular tests such as PCR from appropriate specimens, supported by serology or culture in specialized labs. Treatment uses antibiotics effective against cell-wall-deficient bacteria, including macrolides, tetracyclines, or certain fluoroquinolones. Because of variable virulence and resistance, therapy should be guided by local guidelines. Preventive measures emphasize standard infection-control practices and prompt treatment of identified cases; there is no widely used vaccine for mykoplasman.