[Mycoplasma-related pneumonia: a rare cause of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and of potential antibiotic resistance].

INTRODUCTION: Acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection has rarely been described. OBSERVATION: We report a case of community-acquired pneumonia occurring in a patient with Down's syndrome. Persisting hypoxemia raised the questions of nosocomial pneumonia, of the occurrence of a fibrosing alveolitis or of the resistance of the strain to macrolides. After a long period of very severe respiratory impairment, the evolution was progressively favourable and the patient was discharged from ICU with full respiratory recovery 43 days after admission.
CONCLUSION: Acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by M. pneumoniae infection is rare but must be considered when the appropriate clinical and radiological pattern occurs. The question of the susceptibility of the strain to macrolides has to be raised in some circumstances.