All issues > Volume 42(3); 1999

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1999;42(3):348-354. Published online March 15, 1999.

Clinical Utility of the Sputum Polymerase Chain Reaction Obtained by Nebulizer in the Diagnosis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae Pneumonia

Kye Nam KN Yoon¹, Sang Wook SW Park¹, Eui Ho EH Lee¹, Won Bae WB Lee¹, Kyung Tai KT Whang¹, Hee Jin HJ Lee²

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Catholic University, Seoul, Korea
²Medical Research Institute of St. Holy Hospital, Pucheon, Korea

Abstract

Purpose
: The polymerase chain reaction(PCR) has been used for the early diagnosis of mycoplasmal infections using various clinical samples. In this study, the clinical utility of sputum PCR through a new method was studied to diagnose mycoplasma pneumonia.
Methods
: One hundred nineteen pneumonic patients, ages ranging from 15 months old to 15 years old, were examined from Aug, 1997 to Nov, 1997. We collected 99 blood samples for mycoplasma serologic tests and obtained 55 sputum specimens by nebulizer for PCR. In addition, the radiographic findings of mycoplasma pneumonia were recognized.
Results
: Mycoplasma pneumonia was diagnosed in 77 of 119 patients. The age distribution for mycoplasma pneumonia patients as follows : 11.7% in 15-24 months old, 42.8% in 2-5 years old, 36.4% in 6-10, and 9.1% in 11-15 years old. The average positive rate was 38.4% for cold agglutinin, 63.6% for antimycoplasma antibody, and 74.5% for sputum PCR. The average positive rates of antimycoplasma antibody/sputum PCR were distributed as follows : 50/100% in 15-24 months old, 60.9/59.1% in 2-5 years old, 71.9/83.3% in 6-10, and 71.4/83.3% in 11-15 years old. The radiographic findings of mycoplasma pneumonia were 62.3% in the lobar, especially the left lower lobe or segmental alveolar consolidation, 20.8% in diffuse interstitial infiltration, and 16.9% in bronchopneumonic pattern.
Conclusion
: Mycoplasma pneumonia was found in younger children and diagnosed early by sputum PCR. This method, therefore, is of considerable use.

Keywords :PCR, Sputum, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Pneumonia