title: The detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in nasal polyps.
abstract: The aetiology and microbial flora of nasal polyps is not well understood. No study in the literature has reported an association between the sub-bacterium Mycoplasma pneumoniae and nasal polyps. We have developed an assay method using the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) to amplify a specific region of the M. pneumoniae DNA in extracts of clinical samples using species-specific primers designed to a region of the 16S rRNA. The presence of M. pneumoniae was detected in 13/14 (93%) nasal polyps, in 4/5 (80%) rhinosinusitis mucosal samples but only in 1/7 (14%) of control samples (obstructive turbinates). An epidemic of infections due to M. pneumoniae is expected to occur in 1995. We believe this assay could form the basis of a rapid technique for M. pneumoniae detection. We also propose that the presence of M. pneumoniae may be of importance in the aetiology of nasal polyps.
authors.affiliation: Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Gurr
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chakraverty
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Callanan
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Gurr
mesh_terms: D015139:Blotting, Southern; D017931:DNA Primers; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D005784:Gene Amplification; D006801:Humans; D009177:Mycoplasma pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000382:microbiology*; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers