title: Diagnostic utility and clinical significance of naso- and oropharyngeal samples used in a PCR assay to diagnose Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in children with community-acquired pneumonia.
abstract: PCR assays of naso- and oropharyngeal samples among hospitalized children appear equally effective for the diagnosis of serologically confirmed community-acquired mycoplasmal pneumonia. However, the combination of results from both sites yields optimal sensitivity (57%), specificity (98%), and positive (92%) and negative (82%) predictive values when compared with Mycoplasma pneumoniae enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, Texas 75390-9063, USA.
authors.forename: Ian C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Michelow
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.forename: Juanita
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lozano
authors.forename: Lynn B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Duffy
authors.forename: George H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: McCracken
authors.forename: R Doug
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Hardy
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009666:Nose / Q000382:microbiology*; D009960:Oropharynx / Q000382:microbiology*; D011019:Pneumonia, Mycoplasma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*