[Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis in children with acute lower respiratory infection].
BACKGROUND
Diagnosis of respiratory tract infections due to Chlamydia trachomatis in pediatric patients is very important because of its complications and sequelae. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the performance of rapid methods for reading this diagnosis in 111 children with lower acute respiratory disease.


METHODS
Their nasopharyngeal aspirates were studied for detection of Chlamydia spp. antigens using enzyme immunoassay, indirect immunofluorescence and isolation in cell culture. The presence of respiratory viruses was also investigated for immunofluorescence.


RESULTS
Chlamydia spp. were isolated from 16 samples (14.4%) using cell monolayer cultures. They were detected in 22 samples by immunofluorescence (19.8%) and in seven samples by enzyme immunoassay (6.5%). Respiratory viruses were detected in 77 samples (69.4%). Sixty two percent of cell culture positive samples for Chlamydia were also positive for respiratory syncytial virus and 6% were positive for adenovirus. Sensitivity and specificity of immunofluorescence were 37.5% and 83.1% respectively using Chlamydia cell culture as "golden standard". For enzyme immunoassay these percentages were 26 and 96.8% respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The values obtained are not acceptable for recommending these methods for detecting Chlamydia spp. from nasopharyngeal aspirates. It will be necessary to modify these techniques or to develop alternative methods in order to rapidly and easily obtain a diagnosis of respiratory tract infections due to Chlamydia spp.
Savy
V
V
Servicio de Virosis Respiratorias, Instituto Nacional de Microbiología Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán, Ministerio de Salud, Buenos Aires.
Vizioli
N
N
Baumeister
E
E
Josiowicz
A
A
Cadario
E
E
D000208:Acute Disease; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000276:immunology*; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007223:Infant; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology