title: Young Malaysian children with lower respiratory tract infections show low incidence of chlamydial infection.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Y F
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Ngeow
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Weil
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Khairullah
authors.forename: M Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Yusof
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Luam
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gaydos
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Quinn
mesh_terms: 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*