Real-time PCR detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in respiratory specimens

A real-time PCR assay targeting the phosphotransferase system I gene (ptsI) of Mycoplasma pneumoniae was compared to 2 commercially available PCR assays targeting the P1 cytadhesion gene (the LightMix®Kit Mycoplasma pneumoniae [TIB MOLBIOL, Adelphia, NJ, USA] and M. pneumoniae Analyte Specific Reagent [Focus Diagnostics, Cypress, CA, USA] assays) and to a PCR assay targeting the M. pneumoniae repetitive element, RepMP1. Thirty previously positive specimens including 15 throat swab, 10 bronchoalveolar lavage, and 5 sputum specimens, all tested positive with the ptsI and M. pneumoniae ASR assays. Among the previously positive specimens, 14/15 throat swab, 9/10 bronchoalveolar lavage, and 4/5 sputum specimens tested positive with the LightMix®Kit Mycoplasma pneumoniae assay and 13/15 throat swab, 10/10 bronchoalveolar lavage, and 4/5 sputum specimens tested positive with the RepMP1 assay. Forty previously negative clinical specimens tested negative using the ptsI assay. A PCR assay targeting M. pneumoniae ptsI performs equivalently to assays targeting the P1 cytadhesion gene or RepMP1.