Images in clinical medicine: Mycoplasma pneumoniae: Mycoplasma pneumoniae

To the Editor: In the November 24 issue of the Journal,1 the legend below the elegant scanning electron micrograph of Mycoplasma pneumoniae states that the organism is “probably the most common cause of community-acquired pneumonia.” This statement, which has important therapeutic implications, is incorrect. In a review article published in 1994, Marrie2 concluded that the cause of the majority of cases of community-acquired pneumonia is unproved. Although outpatients seem to have a higher incidence of M. pneumoniae infection than inpatients, the chief threat remains Streptococcus pneumoniae in both groups, and treatment options must be weighed with this in mind.