title: Acute Chlamydia pneumoniae and Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections in community-acquired pneumonia and exacerbations of COPD or asthma: therapeutic considerations.
abstract: Rates of acute Chlamydia pneumoniae and Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections were determined in 115 adults hospitalized for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), purulent exacerbations of COPD and acute exacerbations of bronchial asthma, by means of serology and molecular methods. Results were compared with those obtained in a matched control group. Common respiratory pathogens were isolated by cultures in 22.5% and 22.2% of CAP and exacerbated COPD patients, respectively. Cultures from exacerbated asthma patients were always negative. Serological and molecular evidence of current C. pneumoniae infection was obtained in 10.0%, 8.9% and 3.3% of CAP, COPD and asthma cases. The corresponding rates of acute M. pneumoniae infection were 17.5%, 6.7% and 3.3%, respectively. Finally, no difference was found between typical and atypical pathogen rates. These findings highlight the importance of taking into account C. pneumoniae and M. pneumoniae infections in guiding the choice of empirical antibacterial treatment for CAP and purulent exacerbations of COPD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematological, Pneumological and Cardiovascular Sciences: Respiratory Disease Section; University of Pavia and IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Meloni
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Paschetto
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mangiarotti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Crepaldi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morosini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bulgheroni
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fietta
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D023521:Chlamydophila Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D016993:Chlamydophila pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009177:Mycoplasma pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011019:Pneumonia, Mycoplasma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies