Serological and molecular detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in children with community-acquired lower respiratory tract infections

Abstract This study was designed to evaluate the incidence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in children with community-acquired lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs). A total of 245 patients 6 months to 12 years of age were investigated for M. pneumoniae employing serological tests, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), nested PCR, and reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) on throat swab samples. Forty five (59.2%) children M. pneumoniae infection, and this difference was statistically significant ( P  ≤ 0.01).Clinical and radiological findings across M. pneumoniae –positive and –negative cases were comparable. Serology, PCR, nested PCR, and RT-PCR together detected M. pneumoniae infection in 76 (31%) patients. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of PCR were 16.18%, 95.48%, 57.89%, and 74.78%, respectively, and those of serology were 57.89%, 74.78%, 16.18%, and 95.48%, respectively. Serological and molecular detection in combination is useful for rapid and reliable diagnosis of M. pneumoniae infections in children with LRTIs.