A patient is diagnosed with "walking pneumonia," caused by the bacterium Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Why should this patient NOT be given penicillin? Multiple Choice Penicillin causes lysogenic phages to reactivate, so the bacteria would produce toxins. People with pneumonia are susceptible to antibiotic-associated colitis. Other less toxic
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-lactam medications would be more effective. Some bacteria, such as Mycoplasma species, are intrinsically resistant to penicillin. Mycoplasma bacteria are allergic to penicillin.