POSTINFECTIOUS ENCEPHALOMYELITIS ASSOCIATED WITH MYCOPLASMA-PNEUMONIAE AND LEGIONELLA-PNEUMOPHILA INFECTION

A case of severe acute encephalomyelitis associated with a serological diagnosis of both Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Legionella pneumophila infection is reported. Serological co-positivity between these two pathogens has been reported previously, and has, in general, been attributed to cross-reactivity. This is the first documented case of co-infection using more sensitive and specific serological techniques. The potential significance of these findings is discussed in the context of the considerable problems in the interpretation of serological data.