Atypical pneumonias caused by Legionella pneumophila, Chlamydophila pneumoniae and Mycoplasma pneumonia

Abstract Atypical pneumonias, a group of diseases relatively unfamiliar to most clinicians, are caused by bacteria not normally associated with pneumonia and usually occur in patients with some kind of comorbidity. They can present as extrapulmonary infections, and prognosis can differ from typical pneumonias. Many clinicians are unfamiliar with the diagnosis of these diseases, and they are often incorrectly treated. In this review, we describe the clinical manifestations of the most common forms of atypical pneumonia, and outline the diagnostic procedures and therapies used in each case. In this way, hope to give physicians and other healthcare professionals the knowledge and diagnostic tools they need to deal with cases in which atypical pneumonia is suspected.