title: Comparison of PCR, culture, and serological tests for diagnosis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae respiratory tract infection in children.
abstract: For diagnosis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection we compared two rapid tests, PCR and the immunoglobulin M immunofluorescence assay (IgM IFA), with culture and the complement fixation test (CFT), in a prospective study among 92 children with respiratory tract infection and 74 controls. Based on positivity of culture and/or CFT as the diagnostic criterion, nine patients (10%) were diagnosed with M. pneumoniae infection. All patients positive by culture were also positive by PCR. In all controls cultures, PCRs, and serological assays were negative, except in one with a positive IgM IFA. The IgM IFA had a low positive predictive value of 50%. Only a combination of PCR (seven patients) and CFT (seven patients) allowed diagnosis of all cases.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Wendelien.Dorigo@rivm.nl
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Dorigo-Zetsma
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Zaat
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Wertheim-van Dillen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Spanjaard
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rijntjes
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: van Waveren
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Angulo
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dankert
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D019085:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009177:Mycoplasma pneumoniae / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011019:Pneumonia, Mycoplasma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012698:Serologic Tests