Mycoplasma Pneumonia: Sensitivity and Specificity

Introduction: Mycoplasma is one of the causes of an atypical Community Acquired Pneumonia.

The sensitivity and specificity of findings for Mycoplasma Pneumonia are listed below. See the left navigation bar to change the display.

Specific Findings

40%

100%

sensitivity ~20% in young adults and 9% in children

sensitivity 50% in first 3 weeks of infection

Study: Clin Infect Dis. 2009 May 1;48(9):1244-9. PMID 19331586

Poorly Diagnostic Findings

Finding	Sensitivity	Specificity	Comments, Study
Mycoplasma IgM	40%	82%	much more sensitive (90-100%) but less specific in young adults / children sensitivity 76% in first 3 weeks rising to 100% by 2 months in all comers Study: Clin Infect Dis. 2009 May 1;48(9):1244-9. PMID 19331586
Mycoplasma IgG + IgM	35%	82%	sensitivity higher and specificity lower in young adults / children sensitivity 33% in first 3 weeks up to 76% at 2 months in all comers Study: Clin Infect Dis. 2009 May 1;48(9):1244-9. PMID 19331586
Cold Agglutinins	Sensitivity = 50%		IgM antibodies; develop 1-2 weeks after infection Study: Clin Infect Dis 1993 Aug;17 Suppl 1:S79-82. PMID 8399943