title: Real-time PCR detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in respiratory specimens.
abstract: A real-time PCR assay targeting the phosphotransferase system I gene (ptsI) of Mycoplasma pneumoniae was compared to 2 commercially available PCR assays targeting the P1 cytadhesion gene (the LightMix®Kit Mycoplasma pneumoniae [TIB MOLBIOL, Adelphia, NJ, USA] and M. pneumoniae Analyte Specific Reagent [Focus Diagnostics, Cypress, CA, USA] assays) and to a PCR assay targeting the M. pneumoniae repetitive element, RepMP1. Thirty previously positive specimens including 15 throat swab, 10 bronchoalveolar lavage, and 5 sputum specimens, all tested positive with the ptsI and M. pneumoniae ASR assays. Among the previously positive specimens, 14/15 throat swab, 9/10 bronchoalveolar lavage, and 4/5 sputum specimens tested positive with the LightMix®Kit Mycoplasma pneumoniae assay and 13/15 throat swab, 10/10 bronchoalveolar lavage, and 4/5 sputum specimens tested positive with the RepMP1 assay. Forty previously negative clinical specimens tested negative using the ptsI assay. A PCR assay targeting M. pneumoniae ptsI performs equivalently to assays targeting the P1 cytadhesion gene or RepMP1.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Division of Clinical Microbiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Bryan H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Schmitt
authors.forename: Lynne M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Sloan
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Patel
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D009177:Mycoplasma pneumoniae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011019:Pneumonia, Mycoplasma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology*; D014481:United States
keywords: Mycoplasma; PCR; pneumoniae