title: Analysis of children with Chlamydophila (Chlamydia) pneumoniae and Mycoplasma pneumoniae respiratoryinfections by real-time PCR assay and serological tests.
abstract: We examined 73 children with respiratory infections for Chlamydophila (Chlamydia) pneumoniae and Mycoplasma pneumoniae using real-time PCR assay and serological tests. C. pneumoniae and M. pneumoniae infections were found in 11 (15.1%) and 6 (8.2%) cases, respectively. The sensitivities and specificities of real-time PCR versus definite diagnosis of acute infection were 63.6% and 100% for C. pneumoniae, and 100% and 100% for M. pneumoniae, respectively. C. pneumoniae PCR-negative results appeared to be due to poor growth of the organism. The sensitivity and specificity of ImmunoCard tests were 33.3% and 82.1%, respectively, indicating that the efficacy of rapid diagnosis was disputable. The present results suggest that real-time PCR is suitable for rapid diagnosis as a first screening test to determine first-line antibacterial agents to be used against these infectious diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, Division of Health Sciences, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, Kanazawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinobu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Otomo
authors.forename: Jun-Ichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yamamura
authors.forename: Erina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Tsuneyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kakinuma
authors.forename: Yumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakamoto
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Tadahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Karasawa