Young Malaysian children with lower respiratory tract infections show low incidence of chlamydial infection.
OBJECTIVE
The incidence of Chlamydia pneumoniae and Chlamydia trachomatis infection was studied among infants and young children admitted to hospital for the management of lower respiratory tract infections, over a 12 month period.


METHODS
Respiratory secretions were examined for chlamydiae by cell culture, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and polymerase chain reaction-enzyme immunoassay. Sera were tested by micro-immunofluorescence for chlamydial IgG, IgM and IgA. Other bacterial and viral pathogens were also looked for by standard cultural and serological methods.


RESULTS
Of 87 patients aged 2 months-3 years, an aetiologic diagnosis was made in 41 (47.1%). C. pneumoniae and C. trachomatis were each detected in 1 (1.2%) of the patients. Among common bacterial pathogens, Haemophilus influenzae (13.8%) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (8.1%) were the most frequently identified. Respiratory viruses and elevated Mycoplasma pneumoniae antibodies were found in 10.3% and 9.1% of patients, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Chlamydiae are infrequent causes of community-acquired acute lower respiratory tract infections in infants and very young children in Malaysia.
Ngeow
Y F
YF
Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Weil
A F
AF
Khairullah
N S
NS
Yusof
M Y
MY
Luam
L
L
Gaydos
C
C
Quinn
T C
TC
D002675:Child, Preschool; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008296:Malaysia; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology*