title: Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in primary care investigated by real-time PCR in England and Wales.
abstract: Real-time PCR was employed to detect a conserved region of the P1 cytadhesin gene of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in combined nose and throat swabs collected from patients attending GP surgeries during 2005-2009 with symptoms of respiratory tract infection (RTI). Samples were collected as part of an annual winter epidemiological and virological linked study in England and Wales. A total of 3,987 samples were tested, 65 (1.7%, 95%CI 1.3-2.1) had detectable M. pneumoniae DNA. Positive patients were detected of both gender, aged from 9 months to 78 years, who had clinical signs of upper RTI, fever and/or myalgia, an influenza-like illness to lower RTI. Mixed infections were identified in four cases, two with influenza A H1, one with H3 and one with influenza B. Children aged 5-14 years were more likely to have detectable M. pneumoniae in samples than all other age groups (Fishers p = 0.03), attributed to the 2005-2006 season in which 6.0% (12/200, 95%CI 3.4-10.3) of 5-14 year olds had detectable M. pneumoniae in comparison to 2.2% in 2006-2007 (3/141 95%CI 0.5-6.4), 2.2% in 2007-2008 (2/89 95%CI 0.1-8.3) and 0% in 2008-2009 (0/151 95%CI 0-2.9).
authors.affiliation: Respiratory and Systemic Infection Laboratory, Health Protection Agency Centre for Infections, 61 Colindale Avenue, London, NW9 5EQ, UK. vicki.chalker@hpa.org.uk
authors.forename: V J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Chalker
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stocki
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mentasti
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fleming
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sadler
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bermingham
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Harrison
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D009175:Mycoplasma Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D009177:Mycoplasma pneumoniae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009666:Nose / Q000382:microbiology; D010614:Pharynx / Q000382:microbiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D014852:Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult