It has no cell wall, which means standard testing frequently misses it. It changes shape to survive. And it's present in 82% of people with Lyme disease, usually making everything worse.
Key Takeaway
Mycoplasma is an opportunistic infection that thrives when the immune system is already suppressed by Lyme, mold, or parasites. Because it mimics so many other conditions, including Lyme itself, and because acute and chronic forms behave very differently, it's routinely missed even when it's a major driver of a patient's symptoms.
What is Mycoplasma?
Mycoplasma is the smallest free-living and self-replicating species of bacteria that infects the human body. The mycoplasma cell contains the minimum set of organelles essential for growth and replication: a plasma membrane, ribosomes, and a genome consisting of a double-stranded circular DNA molecule. Unlike all other prokaryotes, the mycoplasmas have no cell walls.
Mycoplasma is highly pleomorphic, meaning that it does not have a fixed shape. This quality enables it to alter its shape and size for survival and to cross filters that are otherwise only permeable to viruses, making this infection difficult to detect if it is chronic. Mycoplasmas have been nicknamed the "crabgrass" of cell cultures because their infections are persistent, frequently difficult to detect and diagnose, and difficult to cure. However, acute infections are rather easy to diagnose through lab testing.
Mycoplasma is commonly known for causing acute "walking pneumonia" and various respiratory illnesses. However, chronic mycoplasma infections are seen throughout multiple chronic illnesses and are transmitted by other routes.
Symptoms of a Chronic Mycoplasma Infection:
- Sinus Congestion
- Dry Cough
- Rashes / Skin Issues
- Chronic Fatigue / Easily Tired
- Fever
- Frequent Headaches
- Lung Issues (Recurring Bronchitis/Pneumonia, Fluid Accumulation)
- Muscle / Joint Pain
- Sore Throat
- Wheezing
What is a Chronic Mycoplasma Infection?
Chronic mycoplasma infections may be caused by human-to-human contact, food contamination, or via tick bite. Since mycoplasma is also a Lyme co-infection, it can affect those with Lyme disease.
The immune system recognizes mycoplasma as a secondary threat as it prioritizes the microbes or toxins that are currently perceived to be most dangerous to the body. Due to this, mycoplasma is an opportunistic infection, meaning that it affects the body when it is suppressed by microbes or toxins.
How Does Mycoplasma Affect People With Lyme Disease?
According to a 2019 study, mycoplasma infects 82% of people with Lyme disease. Additionally, there has been a 320% increase in the number of US counties affected within the past 20 years. The most predominant strains of mycoplasma in Lyme patients are M. fermentans and M. pneumoniae.
A 2007 study found that "68.75% of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)/Lyme patients show evidence of mycoplasma coinfections." Additionally, people with a mycoplasma infection are more susceptible to rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
How Do We Test and Treat Mycoplasma?
The most accurate testing for mycoplasma is a PCR DNA test. We prefer to use Vibrant Labs and Igenex for testing. The most conventional antibiotic used to address Mycoplasma pneumoniae are doxycycline, azithromycin, erythromycin, tetracycline, or a quinolone. More naturally, we utilize A-MYCO by Byron White to address mycoplasma infections.