Clinical Significance

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a type of bacteria that causes respiratory infections, most notably atypical pneumonia, which is also known as "walking pneumonia" due to its typically milder symptoms compared to other types of pneumonia.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a small, wall-less bacterium.     Its lack of a cell wall makes it unique among bacteria and allows it to evade certain types of antibiotics, like beta-lactams, which target cell wall synthesis.