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Published on: February 23, 2014

Colonization of paediatric lower respiratory tract with genital Mycoplasma species

Katir K Patel1, Paul S Salva, Wilmore C Webley

  • 1Department of Microbiology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, Massachusetts, USA.

Respirology (Carlton, Vic.)
|July 5, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Urogenital Mycoplasma species, besides Mycoplasma pneumoniae, can colonize the airways of children with chronic respiratory diseases. However, this study found no link between Mycoplasma colonization and asthma in pediatric patients.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Microbiology
  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Pathogen colonization of the neonatal or pediatric airway is increasingly linked to chronic respiratory diseases.
  • Investigating the role of Mycoplasma species in pediatric chronic respiratory conditions is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of Mycoplasma organisms in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid of pediatric patients with chronic respiratory diseases.
  • To assess the association between specific Mycoplasma species and chronic respiratory conditions in children.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of 319 pediatric BAL samples using species-specific PCR.
  • Detection of DNA from Mycoplasma genitalium, Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplasma urealyticum, Ureaplasma parvum, and Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

Main Results:

  • Mycoplasma DNA was detected in 32.6% of patient samples.
  • Mycoplasma pneumoniae was found in 10% of samples, with other Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma species also identified.
  • No significant clinical differences were observed between colonized and non-colonized patients, except for serum IgE levels in asthmatics.

Conclusions:

  • Urogenital Mycoplasma species, in addition to Mycoplasma pneumoniae, can colonize the airways of children with chronic respiratory diseases.
  • This study found no association between Mycoplasma colonization and chronic asthma diagnosis in the pediatric population.
Abstract

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