Rapid methods for detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in children with atypical pneumonia

ABSTRACT

Background: Mycoplasma pneumoniae, an atypical pathogen, is increasingly recognized as a common and important human pathogen that is implicated in a wide spectrum of clinical diseases involving multiple body systems. The most common presentation is with respiratory illness. An accurate estimate of the extent of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in the general population is lacking, and infection is probably more extensive than currently accepted due to difficulties in culturing the organism from clinical samples and unreliable diagnostic laboratory tests. This study was undertaken to evaluate PCR, IgM ELISA, and direct antigen enzyme immunoassay [EIA] as rapid methods for diagnosis of M. pneumoniae infection