| [mycoplasma pneumoniae, community-acquired pneumonia and asthma]. | mycoplasma pneumoniae is an intracellular pathogen, devoid of cell wall, able to invade airway epithelial cells. infection may either remain asymptomatic or induce bronchitis and pneumonia. m. pneumoniae is the first-ranking aetiological agent of community-acquired pneumonias in children over five years of age. clinical features are usually mild, but this should not preclude the initiation of a treatment, in order to avoid serious sequelae such as impairment of pulmonary gas exchange capacity. i ... | 2005 | 15893245 |