Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 12) and is a more common and, potentially, more serious disease than
erysipeloid. Two additional similar-sounding skin conditions are erythrasma,
characterized by brown scaly skin patches; caused by Corynebacterium minu-
tissimum (Class Actinobacteria, Chapter 14), and erythema infectiosum, caused
by Parvovirus B19 (Chapter 40). All four skin conditions are associated with
reddened skin, and all four diseases take their root from the Greek, “erusi,”
meaning red.
Mollicutes
Mycoplasmataceae
*Mycoplasma
*Ureaplasma
Genus Mycoplasma contains two accepted human pathogens: Mycoplasma
pneumoniae and Mycoplasma genitalium. Mycoplasma pneumoniae, as its
name suggests, causes pneumonia. It is the most common cause of pneumo-
nia in young adults. The pneumonia produced tends to be somewhat mild
and chronic (so-called walking pneumonia), unlike the acute and fulminant
pneumonias produced by other bacteria.
Mycoplasma genitalium is a common cause of sexually transmitted
urethritis.
Mycoplasma hominis inhabits the human genital tract and is a suspected
cause of some cases of pelvic inflammatory disease in women.
Mycoplasma fermentans, Mycoplasma pirum, and Mycoplasma penetrans,
are additional Mycoplasma species that are being studied as potential human
pathogens.
Genus Ureoplasma contains two putative infectious species: Ureoplasma
urealyticum and the closely related Ureoplasma parvum. They are found
in the genital tracts of a very high percentage of sexually active, healthy
humans (about 70%); thus, their role as pathogens in genital and perinatal
diseases is somewhat controversial. It is suspected that Ureaplasma species
account for some cases of urethritis.
Infectious species:
Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae (erysipeloid, a cellulitis)
Mycoplasma genitalium (urethritis)
Mycoplasma pneumoniae (mycoplasma pneumonia)
Ureaplasma urealyticum (urethritis)
