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Occurrence of Chlamydia trachomatis and Chlamydia pneumoniae in paediatric respiratory infections

W C Webley1, Y Tilahun, K Lay

  • 1University of Massachusetts, Dept of Microbiology, Morrill Science Center IVN Rm 203, Amherst, MA 01003, USA. wilmore@microbio.umass.edu

The European Respiratory Journal
|November 18, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Chronic lung infections, including Chlamydia pneumoniae and Chlamydia trachomatis, are common in children with respiratory issues. These bacteria, particularly viable forms, were frequently detected in pediatric patients, especially those with asthma.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Microbiology
  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Chronic lung infections are increasingly linked to asthma in children and adults.
  • The role of specific bacteria, such as Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cp) and Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct), in pediatric chronic respiratory diseases requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of viable Chlamydia pneumoniae and Chlamydia trachomatis in the respiratory tracts of children with chronic respiratory diseases.
  • To explore the association between Chlamydia infection and asthma in pediatric patients.

Main Methods:

  • Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples were collected from 182 pediatric patients.
  • Samples were analyzed using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), in vitro tissue culture, and immunofluorescence staining for Cp and Ct.
  • Patient data including age and disease type (asthma, inflammatory vs. non-inflammatory airway disease) were correlated with Chlamydia detection.

Main Results:

  • Chlamydia-specific DNA was detected in 68% of patients; 79% tested positive for Cp, 77% for Ct, and 32% for both.
  • Cultivable Chlamydia was found in 75 patients, with higher prevalence in asthma patients (59/128) compared to non-asthmatics (16/54).
  • Viable Chlamydia was more frequently identified in samples from patients with inflammatory airway disease (46%) than non-inflammatory disease (18%).

Conclusions:

  • Viable Chlamydia pneumoniae and Chlamydia trachomatis are frequently present in children with chronic respiratory diseases.
  • Chlamydia infection appears more prevalent in pediatric asthma patients.
  • This study reports the first evidence of viable Chlamydia trachomatis in the lungs of children.

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