[Determination of serologic markers against bacterial atypical pneumonia agents in pneumonia patients]

Abstract

Approximately one third of all community acquired pneumonia cases are caused by Legionella pneumophila, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydophila pneumoniae (previously, Chlamydia pneumoniae) which are known as bacterial atypical pneumonia agents. Serological tests are used commonly for laboratory diagnosis of these agents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the causative role of bacterial atypical pneumonia agents in clinically diagnosed pneumonia patients. Acute and convalescent serum samples were collected from a total of 65 clinically diagnosed adult pneumonia patients in order to evaluate IgM and IgG positivities against L. pneumophila, M. pneumoniae and C. pneumoniae. IgM and IgG were evaluated by enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) for L. pneumophila and M. pneumoniae, and by indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) method for C. pneumoniae. In acute serum samples, 4 (6.2%) M. pneumoniae IgM positivity in addition to 3 (4.6%) L. pneumophila IgG, 3 (4.6%) M. pneumoniae IgG and 62 (95.4%) C. pneumoniae IgG positivity were detected. In convelescent serum samples, 3 (4.6%) L. pneumophila, 1 (1.5%) M. pneumoniae, 3 (4.6%) C. pneumoniae IgM positivity and 4 (6.2%) L. pneumophila with 1 (1.5%) M. pneumoniae IgG positivity were detected in addition to acute sample positivities. According to these serological data, totally 16 (24.6%) of the patients were infected by bacterial atypical pneumonia agents. These results show that bacterial atypical pneumonia agents are important etiological factors for community acquired pneumonia.