Final answer:
The agent of atypical pneumonia, or walking pneumonia, is Mycoplasma pneumoniae, which is a milder form of pneumonia often spread in crowded settings and typically has symptoms like a low fever and persistent cough.
Step-by-step explanation:
The causative agent of atypical pneumonia, commonly known as walking pneumonia, is Mycoplasma pneumoniae. This type of pneumonia is characterized by a milder infection that does not always require bed rest, hence the name "walking." It is common in crowded environments and exhibits symptoms such as low fever and a persistent cough. People infected by Mycoplasma pneumoniae usually experience less severe symptoms than those infected by more typical bacteria like Streptococcus pneumoniae, which often causes a more severe form of pneumonia with a productive cough and sometimes bloody sputum.
Mycoplasma pneumonia is not part of the normal microbiota of the respiratory tract and can be spread through aerosols when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The infection is often seen in institutions where people are in close quarters, such as military bases or colleges. Unlike other bacteria that cause pneumonia, Mycoplasma pneumoniae lacks a cell wall and attaches to ciliated cells in the respiratory tract, disrupting their function and leading to infection.