Table 2.
Summary of studies of respiratory infections due to M. pneumoniae in pediatric patients published since 2003
| Reference | Location | Subject age (years) | No. of subjects tested | Diagnostic method(s) | No. (%) of subjects infected with M. pneumoniae | Comments | Methodological problem(s)a |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [21] 2003 | Chile | 0–14 | 106 | 16S rRNA gene-based PCR, IgM serology (two tests) on acute serum, culture | 31 (29.2) | 31 positive by IgM, in 28/31 cases, serology was confirmed by PCR, 19 positive by culture | ... |
| [12] 2004 | The Netherlands | 0–16 | 168 | P1 gene-based PCR | 4 (2.4) | E | |
| [15] 2004 | Greece | 0.5–14 | 65 | P1 gene-based PCR and IgM serology on acute-phase serum | 18 (27.5) | 18 positive by IgM, 9 PCR-positive | F |
| [70 2004 | Japan | 0–14 | 369 | 16S rRNA gene-based PCR, CFT, culture | 69 (18.7) | 68 positive by PCR, 53 culture-positive, 76 serology-positive | ... |
| [9] 2005 | Finland | 0.3–16 | 101 | CFT, IgM, and IgA serology | 27 (27) | 27 patients positive with two or more tests, 12 patients positive with only one test | C |
| [13] 2005 | China | 0–5 |
85 patients 185 controls |
ATPase-based PCR | 6 (7.1) | All positive results were found inpatients | E |
| [11] 2005 | India | 93 | IgM ELISA on acute-phase serum | 22 (24) | All positive by single IgM determination | F | |
| [10] 2006 | Finland | 0–16 | 220 | 2 IgM EIAs | 11 (5) | Not clear whether positive in acute, convalescent, or both sera | F |
| [20] 2006 | Japan | 0–6 | 339 | P1 gene-based PCR, passive agglutination, IgM, IgG, and IgA ELISA | 81 (23.9) | 66 PCR-positive, 106 PA titers above 1:40, among PCR-positive patients, 30/36 had a ≥4-fold increase in PA titer, 36/81 positive for IgG, 16/81 positive for IgA, and 54/81 positive for IgM | ... |
| [24] 2007 | Japan | 0–15 | 194 | Culture, CFT, rapidtest | 45 (23.2) | 14 culture-positive, ImmunoCard-positive in 39 paired sera and in 14 acute sera, CFT results not mentioned | ... |
| [17] 2007 | Turkey | 5–15 | 284 | PCR, IgM ELISA onacute-phase serum | NS | 33/203 PCR-positive, 86/284 IgM patients, only in 13 cases positive by both PCR and IgM | ... |
| [31] 2008 | Japan | 0–15 | 73 | 16S rRNA gene-based PCR, IgM and IgG serology | 6 (8.2) | 6/6 PCR-positive, 5/6 IgG seroconversion/significant rise, one additional positive by IgG serology, 2/6 ImmunoCard assay-positive, 12 additional patients positive by ImmunoCard assay | ... |
aA: no information provided about the PCR and/or serological assay used; B: single IgG titer used as part of the criteria used to define an acute infection; C: EIA used as the only serodiagnostic tool; D: serological titers vary from those recommended for the diagnosis of acute infections; E: one PCR assay used as the only diagnostic tool; F: (single) IgM titer used as the only serodiagnostic tool in some or all patients
Ag: antigen; CFT: complement fixation test; IFI: indirect immunofluorescence; IgA/G/M: Immunoglobulin A/G/M; MX: multiplex; NASBA: nucleic acid sequence-based amplification; NS: not specified; …: no major methodological problems identified