title: Real-time detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in respiratory samples with an internal processing control.
abstract: Real-time PCR was employed to detect a region of the P1 cytadhesin gene of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in clinical samples. An internal processing control was included that could be co-amplified simultaneously in the same reaction tube. The assay could reproducibly detect 1 x 10(3) M. pneumoniae organisms ml(-1) in clinical samples. There was no amplification of DNA or signal production from 15 other species of human mycoplasmas and 19 other bacterial species. Using a panel of 175 respiratory samples taken from patients with pneumonia of proven aetiology, the sensitivity was found to be 60 % and the specificity of the assay 96.7 % when compared with serology. This assay is suitable for same-day diagnosis of M. pneumoniae infection and batch processing of respiratory samples for clinical screening.
authors.affiliation: Respiratory and Systemic Infection Laboratory, Health Protection Agency Centre for Infections, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ, UK.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pitcher
authors.affiliation: Respiratory and Systemic Infection Laboratory, Health Protection Agency Centre for Infections, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ, UK.
authors.forename: Victoria J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Chalker
authors.affiliation: Respiratory and Systemic Infection Laboratory, Health Protection Agency Centre for Infections, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ, UK.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sheppard
authors.affiliation: Respiratory and Systemic Infection Laboratory, Health Protection Agency Centre for Infections, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ, UK.
authors.forename: Robert C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: George
authors.affiliation: Respiratory and Systemic Infection Laboratory, Health Protection Agency Centre for Infections, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ, UK.
authors.forename: Timothy G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Harrison
mesh_terms: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017931:DNA Primers; D005798:Genes, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009177:Mycoplasma pneumoniae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011019:Pneumonia, Mycoplasma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D017931:DNA Primers; C035471:adhesin, Mycoplasma pneumoniae