Mycoplasma

• Genus of bacteria that lack a cell wall, within the class Mollicutes
• Species of medical importance include:
  • Mycoplasma pneumoniae, cause of atypical pneumonia and other respiratory tract infections
  • Mycoplasma genitalium, rare cause of non-gonococcal urethritis and pelvic inflammatory disease
  • Mycoplasma hominis, rare cause of non-gonococcal urethritis and pelvic inflammatory disease
  • Mycoplasma phocacerebrale (cause of seal finger)
• Inherent resistance to any antibiotics that target cell wall synthesis, including beta-lactams, due to their lack of a cell wall