File T M, Tan J S, Plouffe J F
Department of Internal Medicine, Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, Rootstown, USA.
Infect Dis Clin North Am. 1998 Sep;12(3):569-92, vii. doi: 10.1016/s0891-5520(05)70199-9.
Infections caused by M. pneumoniae, C. pneumoniae, and Legionella spp. are important causes of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). In the past decade, considerable new information has come to light concerning these organisms. Despite this, debate continues concerning the syndromic approach to CAP and the scientific merit of lumping these pathogens together. Because the etiologic diagnosis of these pathogens is established only in a minority of cases, the true prevalence tends to be underestimated. In clinical practice, these pathogens are often empirically treated. More rapid and cost-effective diagnostic techniques are needed so that the clinical course of patients with these infections can be better characterized.
肺炎支原体、肺炎衣原体和军团菌属引起的感染是社区获得性肺炎（CAP）的重要病因。在过去十年中，关于这些病原体有了大量新信息。尽管如此，关于CAP的综合征方法以及将这些病原体归为一类的科学价值的争论仍在继续。由于这些病原体的病因诊断仅在少数病例中得以确立，其真实患病率往往被低估。在临床实践中，这些病原体常常是经验性治疗。需要更快速且具成本效益的诊断技术，以便能更好地描述这些感染患者的临床病程。
