Sanchit Kumar1, Bineeta Kashyap1, Surinder Kumar1, Seema Kapoor2. 1. Department of Microbiology, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, India. 2. Department of Pediatrics, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, India.
Abstract
Purpose: Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae) and Chlamydophila pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) play a significant role in children of all ages with lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs). This study was conducted to detect M. pneumoniae and C. pneumoniae in children with community-acquired LRTIs employing serology, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and nested PCR analysis. Material and Methods: This study included 75 children with acute LRTIs for detection of M. pneumoniae and C. pneumoniae. Blood was obtained for M. pneumoniae and C. pneumoniae antibodies and nasopharyngeal aspirates for M. pneumoniae PCR and C. pneumoniae nested PCR. Results: M. pneumoniae infection was positive in 9 (64.21%) children aged 2-6 months and in 5 (35.79%) aged 7 months-12 years, and this difference was statistically significant (P = 0.002). C. pneumoniae infection was comparable within the age group and statistically insignificant (P = 0.43). Clinical and radiological profiles of M. pneumoniae- and C. pneumoniae-positive and negative patients were numerically comparable. Serology and PCR together detected M. pneumoniae infection in 14 (18.6%) children. The sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values of serology were 77.78%, 92.42%, 58.33% and 96.83%, respectively. C. pneumoniae infection was positive in 11 (14.6%) children by serology and nested PCR with 50% sensitivity, 87.67% specificity, 10% positive predictive value and 98.46% negative predictive value. Conclusions: Our study confirms that M. pneumoniae and C. pneumoniae play a significant role in community-acquired LRTIs and a combination of serology and nested PCR is useful for its diagnosis.
Purpose: Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae) and Chlamydophila pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) play a significant role in children of all ages with lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs). This study was conducted to detect M. pneumoniae and C. pneumoniae in children with community-acquired LRTIs employing serology, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and nested PCR analysis. Material and Methods: This study included 75 children with acute LRTIs for detection of M. pneumoniae and C. pneumoniae. Blood was obtained for M. pneumoniae and C. pneumoniae antibodies and nasopharyngeal aspirates for M. pneumoniae PCR and C. pneumoniae nested PCR. Results:M. pneumoniaeinfection was positive in 9 (64.21%) children aged 2-6 months and in 5 (35.79%) aged 7 months-12 years, and this difference was statistically significant (P = 0.002). C. pneumoniaeinfection was comparable within the age group and statistically insignificant (P = 0.43). Clinical and radiological profiles of M. pneumoniae- and C. pneumoniae-positive and negative patients were numerically comparable. Serology and PCR together detected M. pneumoniaeinfection in 14 (18.6%) children. The sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values of serology were 77.78%, 92.42%, 58.33% and 96.83%, respectively. C. pneumoniaeinfection was positive in 11 (14.6%) children by serology and nested PCR with 50% sensitivity, 87.67% specificity, 10% positive predictive value and 98.46% negative predictive value. Conclusions: Our study confirms that M. pneumoniae and C. pneumoniae play a significant role in community-acquired LRTIs and a combination of serology and nested PCR is useful for its diagnosis.