{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,22]],"date-time":"2026-10-22T15:16:14Z","timestamp":1792682174579,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":24,"publisher":"Journal of Neurosurgery Publishing Group (JNSPG)","issue":"2","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PED"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2014,8]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n<jats:title>Object<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p><jats:italic>Mycoplasma hominis<\/jats:italic> is a rare cause of infection after neurosurgical procedures. The <jats:italic>Mycoplasma<\/jats:italic> genus contains the smallest bacteria discovered to date. <jats:italic>Mycoplasma<\/jats:italic> are atypical bacteria that lack a cell wall, a feature that complicates both diagnosis and treatment. The Gram stain and some types of culture media fail to identify these organisms, and typical broad-spectrum antibiotic regimens are ineffective because they act on cell wall metabolism. <jats:italic>Mycoplasma hominis<\/jats:italic> commonly colonizes the genitourinary tract in a nonvirulent manner, but it has caused postoperative, postpartum, and posttraumatic infections in various organ systems.<\/jats:p>\n<jats:p>The authors present the case of a 17-year-old male with a postoperative intramedullary spinal cord abscess due to <jats:italic>M. hominis<\/jats:italic> and report the results of a literature review of <jats:italic>M. hominis<\/jats:italic> infections after neurosurgical procedures. Attention is given to time to diagnosis, risk factors for infection, ineffective antibiotic regimens, and final effective antibiotic regimens to provide pertinent information for the practicing neurosurgeon to diagnose and treat this rare occurrence.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec>\n<jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>A PubMed search was performed to identify reports of <jats:italic>M. hominis<\/jats:italic> infections after neurosurgical procedures.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec>\n<jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>Eleven cases of postneurosurgical <jats:italic>M. hominis<\/jats:italic> infection were found. No other cases of intramedullary spinal cord abscess were found. Initial antibiotic coverage was inadequate in all cases, and diagnosis was delayed in all cases. Multiple surgical interventions were often needed. Once appropriate antibiotics were started, patients typically experienced rapid resolution of their neurological symptoms. In 27% of cases, a suspicious genitourinary source other than urinary catheterization was identified.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>\n<jats:sec>\n<jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n<jats:p>Postoperative <jats:italic>M. hominis<\/jats:italic> infections are rarely seen after neurosurgical procedures. They are typically responsive to appropriate antibiotic therapy. <jats:italic>Mycoplasma<\/jats:italic> infection may cause prolonged hospitalization and multiple returns to the operating room due to delay in diagnosis. Early clinical suspicion with appropriate antibiotic coverage could help prevent these significant complications.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3171\/2014.4.peds13547","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2014,5,23]],"date-time":"2014-05-23T14:59:39Z","timestamp":1400857179000},"page":"212-218","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":39,"title":["Postoperative Mycoplasma hominis infections after neurosurgical intervention"],"prefix":"10.3171","volume":"14","author":[{"given":"Wesley J.","family":"Whitson","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Section of Neurosurgery and"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Perry A.","family":"Ball","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Section of Neurosurgery and"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"S. Scott","family":"Lollis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Section of Neurosurgery and"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jason D.","family":"Balkman","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Radiology, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, New Hampshire"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"David F.","family":"Bauer","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Section of Neurosurgery and"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1754","reference":[{"key":"b1-peds13547","series-title":"J Med Case Reports","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"278","DOI":"10.1186\/1752-1947-5-278","article-title":"Mycoplasma hominis brain abscess following uterus curettage: a case report","volume":"5","author":"Al Masalma","year":"2011"},{"key":"b2-peds13547","series-title":"Infection","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"46","DOI":"10.1007\/s150100050011","article-title":"Retroperitoneal abscess and bacteremia due to Mycoplasma hominis in a polytraumatized man","volume":"28","author":"Brunner","year":"2000"},{"key":"b3-peds13547","series-title":"Clin Infect Dis","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"619","DOI":"10.1086\/514699","article-title":"Intramedullary abscess of the spinal cord in the antibiotic era: clinical features, microbial etiologies, trends in pathogenesis, and outcomes","volume":"27","author":"Chan","year":"1998"},{"key":"b4-peds13547","series-title":"Neonatology","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"179","DOI":"10.1159\/000153103","article-title":"Successful treatment of multiple subdural empyemata caused by Mycoplasma hominis in a newborn","volume":"95","author":"Chong","year":"2009"},{"key":"b5-peds13547","series-title":"Clin Infect Dis","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"272","DOI":"10.1093\/clinids\/24.2.272","article-title":"Mycoplasma hominis meningitis complicating head trauma: case report and review","volume":"24","author":"Cohen","year":"1997"},{"key":"b6-peds13547","series-title":"Arq Neuropsiquiatr","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"308","DOI":"10.1590\/S0004-282X2012000400017","article-title":"Penetrating cervical spine injury and spinal cord intramedullary abscess","volume":"70","author":"da Silva","year":"2012"},{"key":"b7-peds13547","series-title":"J Neurosurg Sci","first-page":"213","article-title":"Cervical spinal cord intramedullary abscess. 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