The microbiological etiology of seasonal upper respiratory illnesses in the United States is dominated by viruses, including
influenza A, B, respiratory syncytial virus, and SARS-CoV2.
Mycoplasma pneumonia, treatable with
antibiotics, can also cause upper respiratory symptoms and is typically associated with about 15 % of cases. There is no clinical or radiologic finding diagnostic of
Mycoplasma pneumonia infection and PCR-based testing is not routinely used in the clinical setting. Further, the bacteria grows slowly in culture and the diagnostic
IgM response will take days after the onset of
infection. Thus, a rapid diagnostic test for Mycobacterium
pneumonia infection is needed. This study documented two cases of
Mycoplasma pneumonia infection of the upper respiratory system using in situ hybridization in a series of over 20 patients who were being tested for SARS-CoV2
infection. The respiratory secretions were placed on a glass slide, fixed in 10 % buffered
formalin, and then tested using a
Mycoplasma pneumonia probe. The high bacterial number associated with acute
infection allowed for straightforward detection by in situ hybridization in a few hours.
Antibiotic therapy led to rapid resolution of the symptoms. This highlights the ability of standard in situ hybridization as a rapid diagnostic test for
Mycoplasma pneumonia in the clinical setting.