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Low-pathogenicity Mycoplasma spp. alter human monocyte and macrophage function and are highly prevalent among patients with ventilator-acquired pneumonia.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

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Authors

Nolan, TJ 
Gadsby, NJ 
Templeton, KE 
McMullan, R 

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Ventilator-acquired pneumonia (VAP) remains a significant problem within intensive care units (ICUs). There is a growing recognition of the impact of critical-illness-induced immunoparesis on the pathogenesis of VAP, but the mechanisms remain incompletely understood. We hypothesised that, because of limitations in their routine detection, Mycoplasmataceae are more prevalent among patients with VAP than previously recognised, and that these organisms potentially impair immune cell function. METHODS AND SETTING: 159 patients were recruited from 12 UK ICUs. All patients had suspected VAP and underwent bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). VAP was defined as growth of organisms at >10(4) colony forming units per ml of BAL fluid on conventional culture. Samples were tested for Mycoplasmataceae (Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma spp.) by PCR, and positive samples underwent sequencing for speciation. 36 healthy donors underwent BAL for comparison. Additionally, healthy donor monocytes and macrophages were exposed to Mycoplasma salivarium and their ability to respond to lipopolysaccharide and undertake phagocytosis was assessed. RESULTS: Mycoplasmataceae were found in 49% (95% CI 33% to 65%) of patients with VAP, compared with 14% (95% CI 9% to 25%) of patients without VAP. Patients with sterile BAL fluid had a similar prevalence to healthy donor BAL fluid (10% (95% CI 4% to 20%) vs 8% (95% CI 2% to 22%)). The most common organism identified was M. salivarium. Blood monocytes from healthy volunteers incubated with M. salivarium displayed an impaired TNF-α response to lipopolysaccharide (p=0.0003), as did monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) (p=0.024). MDM exposed to M. salivarium demonstrated impaired phagocytosis (p=0.005). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates a high prevalence of Mycoplasmataceae among patients with VAP, with a markedly lower prevalence among patients with suspected VAP in whom subsequent cultures refuted the diagnosis. The most common organism found, M. salivarium, is able to alter the functions of key immune cells. Mycoplasmataceae may contribute to VAP pathogenesis.

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Keywords

Assisted Ventilation, Bacterial Infection, Cytokine Biology, Innate Immunity, Pneumonia, Aged, Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid, Bronchoscopy, Cross Infection, Female, Humans, Intensive Care Units, Lipopolysaccharides, Macrophages, Male, Middle Aged, Monocytes, Mycoplasma, Phagocytosis, Pneumonia, Bacterial, Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Prevalence, United Kingdom

Journal Title

Thorax

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0040-6376
1468-3296

Volume Title

71

Publisher

BMJ
Sponsorship
This study was funded by the Hospital Infection Society, Wellcome Trust/Department of Health Health Innovation Challenge Fund (HICF)(0510/078) and Sir Jules Thorn Charitable Trust (03/JTA).