Abstract
Mycoplasma hominis is a commensal of the genitourinary tract, which is infrequently associated with urogenital infections. Extra-urogenital infections due to M. hominis are rare. Here, we report an unusual case of M. hominis subdural empyema in a woman occurring shortly after delivery. The patient presented with symptoms suggestive of bacterial meningitis. Spinal imaging revealed a subdural empyema that required neurosurgical intervention. Cultures from intraoperatively obtained biopsies identified M. hominis as the causative pathogen. The patient was treated with oral moxifloxacin for 4 weeks resulting in the resolution of the spinal lesion. The subdural empyema was presumably caused by a contaminated epidural blood patch performed with the patient’s own blood during an episode of transient M. hominis bacteremia after delivery. The blood patch was indicated for the treatment of cerebrospinal fluid leakage, which had occurred after epidural anesthesia. Our findings highlight the significance of transient M. hominis bacteremia after delivery and implicate that M. hominis should be considered as a causative agent of extra-genitourinary tract infections particularly during the postpartum period or after genitourinary manipulation.
References
Taylor-Robinson D. Infections due to species of Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma: an update. Clin Infect Dis. 1996;23:671–82 (quiz 83-84).
Capoccia R, Greub G, Baud D. Ureaplasma urealyticum, Mycoplasma hominis and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Curr Opin Infect Dis. 2013;26:231–40. doi:10.1097/QCO.0b013e328360db58.
Breugelmans M, Vancutsem E, Naessens A, Laubach M, Foulon W. Association of abnormal vaginal flora and Ureaplasma species as risk factors for preterm birth: a cohort study. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2010;89:256–60. doi:10.3109/00016340903418769.
Donders GG, Van Bulck B, Caudron J, Londers L, Vereecken A, Spitz B. Relationship of bacterial vaginosis and mycoplasmas to the risk of spontaneous abortion. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2000;183:431–7. doi:10.1067/mob.2000.105738.
Kilic D, Basar MM, Kaygusuz S, Yilmaz E, Basar H, Batislam E. Prevalence and treatment of Chlamydia trachomatis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, and Mycoplasma hominis in patients with non-gonococcal urethritis. Jpn J Infect Dis. 2004;57:17–20.
Madoff S, Hooper DC. Nongenitourinary infections caused by Mycoplasma hominis in adults. Rev Infect Dis. 1988;10:602–13.
McMahon DK, Dummer JS, Pasculle AW, Cassell G. Extragenital Mycoplasma hominis infections in adults. Am J Med. 1990;89:275–81.
Sato H, Iino N, Ohashi R, Saeki T, Ito T, Saito M, et al. Hypogammaglobulinemic patient with polyarthritis mimicking rheumatoid arthritis finally diagnosed as septic arthritis caused by Mycoplasma hominis. Intern Med. 2012;51:425–9.
Waites KB, Cox NR, Crouse DT, McIntosh JC, Cassell GH. Mycoplasma infections of the central nervous system in humans and animals. In: Stanek G, Cassell GH, Tully JG, Whitcomb RF, editors. Recent advances in mycoplasmology. Stuttgart: Gustav Fischer Verlag; 1990. p. 379–86.
Henao-Martinez AF, Young H, Nardi-Korver JJ, Burman W. Mycoplasma hominis brain abscess presenting after a head trauma: a case report. J Med Case Rep. 2012;6:253. doi:10.1186/1752-1947-6-253.
Lee EH, Winter HL, van Dijl JM, Metzemaekers JD, Arends JP. Diagnosis and antimicrobial therapy of Mycoplasma hominis meningitis in adults. Int J Med Microbiol. 2012;302:289–92. doi:10.1016/j.ijmm.2012.09.003.
McCormack WM, Rosner B, Lee YH, Rankin JS, Lin JS. Isolation of genital mycoplasmas from blood obtained shortly after vaginal delivery. Lancet. 1975;1:596–9.
Al Masalma M, Drancourt M, Dufour H, Raoult D, Fournier PE. Mycoplasma hominis brain abscess following uterus curettage: a case report. J Med Case Rep. 2011;5:278. doi:10.1186/1752-1947-5-278
Douglas MW, Fisher DA, Lum GD, Roy J. Mycoplasma hominis infection of a subdural haematoma in the peripartum period. Pathology. 2003;35:452–4.
Miranda C, Camacho E, Reina G, Turino J, Rodriguez-Granger J, Yeste R, et al. Isolation of Mycoplasma hominis from extragenital cultures. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2005;24:334–7. doi:10.1007/s10096-005-1326-6.
Zheng X, Olson DA, Tully JG, Watson HL, Cassell GH, Gustafson DR, et al. Isolation of Mycoplasma hominis from a brain abscess. J Clin Microbiol. 1997;35:992–4.
Cummings MC, McCormack WM. Increase in resistance of Mycoplasma hominis to tetracyclines. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1990;34:2297–9.
Kenny GE, Cartwright FD. Susceptibilities of Mycoplasma hominis, M. pneumoniae, and Ureaplasma urealyticum to GAR-936, dalfopristin, dirithromycin, evernimicin, gatifloxacin, linezolid, moxifloxacin, quinupristin-dalfopristin, and telithromycin compared to their susceptibilities to reference macrolides, tetracyclines, and quinolones. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2001;45:2604–8.
Krausse R, Schubert S. In-vitro activities of tetracyclines, macrolides, fluoroquinolones and clindamycin against Mycoplasma hominis and Ureaplasma ssp. isolated in Germany over 20 years. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2010;16:1649–55. doi:10.1111/j.1469-0691.2009.03155.x.
Conflict of interest
All authors declare no potential conflicts of interest.
Informed consent:
Written consent to publish was obtained from the patient.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hos, N.J., Bauer, C., Liebig, T. et al. Autoinfection as a cause of postpartum subdural empyema due to Mycoplasma hominis . Infection 43, 241–244 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-014-0713-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s15010-014-0713-2