| Detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in clinical Samples from Pediatric Patients by Polymerase Chain Reaction |
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Baik-Lin Eun1, Sang Hee Park1, Young Chang Dockgo1, Sang Chul Seong2 |
1Department of Pediatrics, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
2Seoul Clinical Laboratories, Seoul Medicl Science Institute |
| 중합효소연쇄반응을 이용한 Mycoplasma pneumoniae 폐렴의 진단에 관한 연구 |
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은백린1, 박상희1, 독고영창1, 성상철2 |
1고려대학교 의과대학 소아과학교실
2서울의과학연구소 |
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| Abstract |
Purpose
: Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a common cause of a wide rage of upper and lower respiratory tract infections, especially in children and young adults. Routine laboratory diagnosis of M.pneumoniae infection is based mainly on serology and, to lesser extent, on cultivation. The cultivation of M.pneumoniae, a fastidious microorganism, is time-consuming and may require 1-3 weeks for results. Serological procedures are the most widely used, but they usually require paired sera to demonstrate rises in antibody titer. It takes too long for results of both of these diagnostic methods to be obtained to allow for the rapid application of an effective treatment. Recently, an in vitro technique was developed to amplify short segments of DNA. This is referred to as the polymerase chain reaction(PCR). This technique has aiready been used for the diagnosis of genetic diseases and viral infections. It is also an effective tool for bacteriological diagnosis. In this prospective study, we have evaluated the use to PCR to detect M.pneumoniae in chilnical samples(nasopharyngeal aspirations of throat swaps) obtained from 101 children. The results are compared with serological data for M.pneumoniae.
Methods
: Clinical specimens were obtained from 101 children admitted to Korea University Medical Center Ansan Hospital between February and October 1994. Clinical samples obtained for M.pneumoniae DNA amplification were nasopharyngeal aspirations(NPA) (n=101) or throat swaps(TS) (n=64), and paired sera were obtained for M.pneumomiae antibody detection and cold agglutinin titer.
Results
: 1) Among the 101 children tested, 45 cases had M.pneumoniae antibody titer> 160 or seroconversion in paired sera. PCR positive results were concordant with serlogy in 33 cases (73.7%).
2) NPA-PCR was concordant with TS-PCR in 66.7%(12 cases).
3) All eight PCR-positive children with negative antibody in acute-phase serum experienced serconversion in convalescent-phase serum.
4) Among the 45 mycoplasma antibody postive cases, the number of positive cases of cold agglutinin test were 27 cases(60.0%).
Conclusion
: The poor sensitivity of culture and the possibility of impaired serological responses make the PCR assay promising for diagnosis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections. In addition, PCR is fast enough to allow for the early application of therapy with a specific antibiotics. |
| Key Words:
Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Polymerase chain reaction(PCR), Naso pharyngeal aspirations, Throat swaps |
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