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 Original Articles |
| Detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in Clinical Samples by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) |
| Son Moon Shin, Young Hwan Lee, Han Ku Moon, Yong Hoon Park, Jeong Ok Hah, Jae Ryong Kim* |
| Department of Pediatrics, Department of Bilchemistry*, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University Taegu, Korea |
Vol.28 Num.3 (p253~259)
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Background : Since culturing Mycoplasma pneumoniae(M. pneumoniae)is timeconsuming and laborious, serological tests are widely used for the diagnosis. However, it takes time for a sufficient titer accumulation to take place for the serological tests to work. In addition, the accuracy of the serological tests is questionable since it is often difficult to distinguish current infectrion from the prior ones. Thus, we investigated the efficacy of PCR which amplified M. pneumoniae DNA as an alternative diagnostic test with greater accuracy and convenience.
Methods : For seventeen patients with possible mycoplasma pneumonia, who came to the department of Pediatrics, Yeungnam University Hospital between May and Septmber of 1995, serological tests and PCR are simutaneously carried out. Sputum, pleural effusion and nasal secretion are collected from the patients for PCR with two sets of primers from P1 attachment-protein gene of M. pneumoniae.
Results : Of total 17 patients, 11 patients were PCR positive, and 6 patients are PCR negative. All of 11 PCR-positive patients showed high titers (1:320~1:5,120) of anti-mycoplasma antibody test. Two out of 6 PCR-negative patients had positive results in anti-mycoplasma antibody test, which were 1:1,280 and 1:2,560, respectively. Further workups for these patients revealed tuberculosis and infective mononeucleosis, respectively. The results of the first PCR test are identical to that of the second PCR test with a different primer.
Conclusion : Compared to the serological tests. PCR is more sensitive and accurate in diagnosing mycoplasma pneumonia. Further research is warranted to facilitate the method of clinical sample collection as well as to determine the optimal timing for the sample collection.
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Keywords : Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Polymerase Chain Reaction |
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