If the above link doesn't work, use this search in google and you will get several articles on the subject.
site:http://www.immed.org "mycoplasma pneumonia"
Posted by momintexas (Member # 23391) on :
This can be a very stubborn infection to get rid of.
Here's some good info and links about it.
Immune Disruption
"Mycoplasmas can also disrupt the normal orchestration and organization of the host�s immune system. They can cause lymphocytes (white blood cells that bear the major responsibility of the immune system) to secrete inflammatory cytokines (proteins that facilitate cell-to-cell communication), which leads to swelling, inflammation and either stimulation or suppression of the immune system. "
"Mycoplasma are a group of microorganisms which are a cross between a virus and a bacteria. Together with Chlamydia and Rickettsia they make up a family of microorganisms known as Rickettsiae and Pararickettsiae. They are found everywhere, the hosts are usually rodents and the vectors are arthropods (insects with jointed legs) or airborne through dust. Rickettsial organisms have been found in ticks, lice, fleas, mites, meat, milk, stool and dust.
They are the smallest free living organisms. Like viruses, they are intracellular organisms but unlike viruses, they can reproduce outside cells. They lack a cell wall which makes them resistant to many antibiotics. They enter the body through skin, lungs or digestive system. They then spread through the bloodstream to infect vascular endothelium. They multiply within cells until numbers are so great that the cells burst. This then damages blood flow to multiple organs, hence the multitude of symptoms which may occur.
Research by Dr Cecile Jardin (a French surgeon now based in South Africa and specialising in the treatment of chronic fatigue) has shown that the most common symptoms of chronic mycoplasma type infections include:
Symptoms are caused by the release of 3 types of toxins into the blood:
1. Endocytokines that cause inflammation and pain. 2. Neurocytokines that produce neurological symptoms including the demyelinisation found in multiple sclerosis and psychiatric symptoms such as depression and anxiety. 3. Allergens causing allergies.
Mycoplasma infections can be occult. That means they can be asymptomatic and lie dormant until another bacteria, virus, parasite, stress or toxin activates it and causes the symptomatic phase.
Often these chronic conditions improve dramatically and even completely recover once the infection is identified and appropriately treated. In my opinion, everyone with the above conditions should be screened for chronic mycoplasma infection."
"Acute mycoplasma infections can be diagnosed by seeing an elevation in mycoplasma antibodies in a blood test. However, chronic infections often require specialised DNA testing (polymerase chain reaction). Clues to a persistent mycoplasma infection include an elevation in inflammatory markers like C-reactive protein, low white cell count, unexplained elevation of liver enzymes, elevated thyroid antibodies (in 28%) an elevated ESR, elevated rheumatoid factor, elevated antinuclear antibody and an elevated IgM antibody."
"Autoimmune conditions associated with Mycoplasmas include arthritis, Fibromyalgia, myositis, thyroid dysfunction (Hashimoto�s or Grave�s Diseases), and adrenal dysfunction, signs and symptoms of Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis, Lyme,and Lou Gehrig�s Disease.
The Mycoplasma organism has the capacity to invade cells, tissues and blood, producing systemic infections in numerous organ systems. According to Dr. Nicholson, it can penetrate the central and peripheral nervous system. Because it has the ability to damage the immune system by invading the natural killer cells (NK cells) of the lymphocytes, it weakens them, reduces their numbers, and renders them susceptible to viral infections, such as Human Herpes Virus 6 (HHV6), HHV7 or HHV8. It may also explain some of the environmentally sensitive responses that are seen with CFIDS and MCS.
Mycoplasma infection can trigger inflammatory cytokine over-production that is commonly seen in CFS/FMS. With the induction of CD-4+ helper cells of the immune system, an over production of cytokines such as Interleukin-1, Interleukin-6 and Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha occurs. These elevated cytokines have been implicated in the development of many of the CFS/FMS symptoms, including neurological involvement. They can have specific or nonspecific stimulatory or suppressive effects on lymphocytes, as measured by B and T cell activation.
In addition, the Mycoplasma infection has immune-modulating effects, activating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. This can cause a cascade of limbic system symptoms characteristic of CFS/FMS."
"Due to the lack of a cell wall, all mycoplasmas are innately resistant to all beta-lactams and glycopeptides. Sulfonamides, trimethoprim, polymixins, nalidixic acid, and rifampin are also inactive. Linezolid is the prototype agent of the oxazolidinone class. These agents are much less active against M. pneumoniae than the other agents that inhibit protein synthesis (224). New quinolones such as moxifloxacin, gatifloxacin, garenoxacin, gemifloxacin, and sparfloxacin tend to have somewhat greater in vitro activity than older agents such as ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, and levofloxacin, although MICs of all fluoroquinolones are severalfold higher than those of macrolides (224, 435-437). Fluoroquinolones have been shown to be bactericidal for M. pneumoniae, whereas macrolides and tetracyclines are primarily bacteriostatic"
The above is a lot of good info - don't have anything to add,
except when I read your heading, I thought it said Mycoplasma Poem. Help! And wondered what THAT was about -
Posted by Cold Feet (Member # 9882) on :
Can you describe how high the igg and igm levels are in your tests?
Posted by tricia386 (Member # 29623) on :
So how long does it take to clear infection and what meds?
Posted by momintexas (Member # 23391) on :
Are you high IgG or IgM or both?
How long to clear is a million $ question. A chronic infection can take a very long time.
Posted by tricia386 (Member # 29623) on :
im high in BOTH!!!
Posted by canefan17 (Member # 22149) on :
Hard to differentiate between Babs and Myco
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Can you post your scores/results? Like how high is high???
PS.. Is your dr concerned about it?? What did he say?
Posted by tricia386 (Member # 29623) on :
I was in the 1400 in one and 1100 in the other...
i just got the test back today and have to fax to my LLMD
Posted by little_olive (Member # 28063) on :
Myco is so much like lyme disease they're practically indistinguishable. They cause the same symptoms (even the facial palsy and rate of neurological disease!) and replicate equally as slowly. I wouldn't worry about it too much because most drugs that treat Lyme will inadventantly treat Mycoplasma as well. But your doctor will probably make sure of that, now! I'm positive too. On Zithro for Lyme but it treats myco. Was on Doxycycline 400mg for five months and it helped but didn't seem to knock it out, I got pleurisy twice after stopping. I think because it replicates slowly you have to treat it almost as long as you do Lyme disease.
Doxycycline is a great choice because it treats bartonella, myco, and Lyme. Won't eradicate them but it's a good place to start! Right now I'm on the Rifampin and Zithro combo.
Posted by Cold Feet (Member # 9882) on :
Gram negative bacteria can create infections that are similar to one another (e.g. Bb similar in presenting symptoms like mycoplasma pneumonia); given what they do to us humans if they are successful in avoiding our immune defenses and antibiotics. They can and do invade every part of the human body. Most gram negatives (if not all) form both mono and polymicrobial biofilm communities, which contribute to the myriad challenges of both diagnosis & treatment.
From what you describe, you have had this infection for some time, and it is still active (high titres of both igg and igm).
Btw, it could be a coinfection, or picked up in communities, the hospital, etc.
Posted by sandim (Member # 30251) on :
I tested positive by quest. How high should my number be to know its activated?
Posted by momintexas (Member # 23391) on :
There should be a range on your test result. Do you have a copy of it?
Posted by chootik (Member # 11221) on :
If these two are so similar then some of us could just have Mycoplasma! I think I might be one of them.
So the question is aside from Doxy, what else kills the Mycoplasma or can get it under control?
Thanks
Posted by sandim (Member # 30251) on :
My mycoplasma Igg wa 5 which is positive, but my igm was 77 which is very negative. Does that mean I have this? It sounds worse than lyme. Has anyone gotten better from this? In the info above it sounds like it causes fibro and cfs. I am very confused.
Posted by momintexas (Member # 23391) on :
chootik - I have read Biaxin and Zith but I am hearing more and more stories from parents who say zith is not helping.
Sandim - there should be a range on your test result as far as what #'s are considered positive.
If your IgG isn't very high then some Dr's wont really look that hard into it.
What has your Dr told you?
Posted by tricia386 (Member # 29623) on :
MY Igg is 1456 IGM 1831
Yikes!
Posted by raw vegan runner (Member # 30432) on :
I have/had myco pneu also...4mo of doxy and 2 rounds of Zith plus 2mo high amox. did nothing. I have had it for years, and still do. As far as I can tel, I do not have any major symptoms of it NOW, but who knows what role it plays...
My Dr. does not seem to be al that concerned with it as he feels that my immune system is simply so wonky I am ust making too many antibodies to alot of things that may not ACTUALLY be issues. He did do 2 rounds of Zith, like I said, but he isn't doing anything else and for now I am ok with that also...
Do you *feel* like you are sick with it?
Posted by tricia386 (Member # 29623) on :
What are the symptoms???
Posted by momlyme (Member # 27775) on :
I was told (in 1995) that I had "walking pneumonia" and pleurisy. I hospitalized because I was throwing up blood. I was given the z-pack... which was 5 days of abx. I have never had abx since.
Is "walking pneumonia" the same thing as Mycoplasma Pneumonia?
The hospital is long since closed down and I can't seem to track down the medical records.
My son tested positive for Mycoplasma Pneumonia... is this another infection that can be passed from mother to child?
I have read myco. pneu. is airborn also?
Anyone know if dogs can have this and pass it in a dog bite?
Posted by momintexas (Member # 23391) on :
Yes, it is absolutely airborne - it's highly contagious and is very common to find in public places, schools etc.
Please read below from Dr N's website:
ANTIBIOTIC THERAPY FOR CO-INFECTIONS OF CHLAYMDIA AND MYCOPLASMA
"Patients with coinfections of Chlamydia plus Mycoplasma species may not tolerate the initial use of Amoxicillin. The reason for this is that the mycoplasmal infections are not susceptible to amoxicillin, and other antibiotics are recommended, such as doxycycline or minocycline, azithromycin and clarithromycin [1]. These are used singly at first, similar to the amoxicillin regimen above. For Mycoplasma and Chlamydia species infections, 6 months [no break] therapy, then 6-week on 2-week off antibiotic cycles (doxycycline, ciprofloxacin, azithromycin, minocycline, clarithromycin or similar, p.o., work best as capsules without starch fillers). Some patients benefit from combinations of antibiotics, such as doxycycline plus azithromycin or ciprofloxacin, especially if there are limited responses to either antibiotic alone."
Posted by tricia386 (Member # 29623) on :
ugh one more thing to worry about!
Posted by tricia386 (Member # 29623) on :
ugh one more thing to worry about!
Posted by tricia386 (Member # 29623) on :
What are the symptoms of MYCO?
Posted by tricia386 (Member # 29623) on :
I wonder if this could be causing my hives?
Posted by little_olive (Member # 28063) on :
Funny you should mention that, because it definitely gave me hives! And I don't have an allergy one! I would always get hives a week or two before I got the pleurisy. It was one of my warning signs. I suspect it's because of the elevated eosinophils (an immune cell), which are responsible for fighting parasitic-like infections as well as allergies. This is a clinically significant sign of mycoplasma pneumonia (and bartonella, too) so maybe you can check your recent bloodwork.
little olive
Posted by wiserforit2 (Member # 18286) on :
I had hives for weeks, but we assumed that it had to do with an allergy to Mucinex and Penicillan! I am still struggling with after effects of Myco although pneumonia-like symptoms are done.
I'm doing Byron White's Myco A -- just started -- kicking ma patooties!
Good luck,
wiserforit2
Posted by tricia386 (Member # 29623) on :
so wait! your hives were caused by myco??? `
Posted by little_olive (Member # 28063) on :
For me, yes, not sure about wiser...
Posted by wiserforit2 (Member # 18286) on :
I honestly don't know if it was the Myco Pneumonia or the Mucinex or the Penicillan, but I stopped all and had hives off and on for almost 6-8 weeks -- which was how long it took to get rid of the cough too. I did two Z-Pacs from a duck. Afterwards, I went downhill with arthritic symptoms and fatigue, which I've been battling since last October. Feels worse than my old Lyme symptoms. I kept thinking it was just detoxing from AI, until I had a Myco test that came up positive as well as muscle testing coming up positive too. Now the Byron White formula is confirming my suspicions about Mycoplasma.
Posted by Suzy50 (Member # 30466) on :
For mycoplasma and chlamydia pneumoniae information research Prof. Garth L. Nicholson and the lab, Viral Immune Pathologies.
I had chlamydia pneumoniae and was on Doxy, Zithromax 3 times a week and Tinidazole. Mine is gone.
I was treated for 9 months, but I really don't know when the infection was gone. I may have been treated longer than necessary.
Posted by wiserforit2 (Member # 18286) on :
You are very lucky, Suzy50, to have responded well to the abx. I can no longer take abx after five years on them constantly. I have needed to follow an alternative regime to address most things. But, I thank you for mentioning Prof. Nicholson.
Best, wiserforit2
Posted by tricia386 (Member # 29623) on :
So how long did it take your hives to go away w/treatment
Posted by CherylSue (Member # 13077) on :
up
Posted by nspiker (Member # 22824) on :
There is much talk of mycoplasma infection on www.roadback.org, for those with autoimmune components.
There are many kinds of mycoplasma, not just mycoplasma pne. Dr. Nicholson has researched mycoplasma fermentans, and has done extensive studies with CFS and Gulf War Syndrome.
Here's a list of antibiotic suseptibilities from the roadback website:
Susceptibilities of common mycoplasma strains to antibiotics
S=susceptible; R=resistant; M=marginal response; S/R=mixed response M. pneumoniae (respiratory tract) S minocycline S erythromycin S doxycycline R cephalosporins S difloxacin S clarithromycin S azithromycin S/R clindamycin S/R ciprofloxacin M hominis (genitourinary tract) S minocycline R erythromycin S doxycycline S cephalosporins M difloxacin R clarithromycin S azithromycin S clindamycin S ciprofloxacin U urealticum (genitourinary tract) S minocycline S erythromycin S doxycycline S temafloxacin S/R difloxacin S/R clarithromycin S/R azithromycin R clindamycin S/R ciprofloxacin M fermentans (incognitis) (genito-urinary tract & oropharynx) S minocycline R erythromycin S doxycycline S temafloxacin ? difloxacin ? clarithromycin ? azithromycin S clindamycin S ciprofloxacin
Some mycoplasmas, such as M. hominis and U urealticum are often found together and they each are resistant to the antibiotic which eliminates the other.
Usual colony site locations can also be helpful in choosing an effective dose of antibiotic as some sites take a higher dose than others.
Commercial mycoplasma test kits often give a false positive result and are not recommended.
A negative test is not unusual at the start of treatment. A second test approximately 4 weeks later often gives a positive result.