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Updated: Nov 16, 2025
Antigen-Capture Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Specific Detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae
Published on: February 24, 2023
Comparison of different detection methods for Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in children with community-acquired
Mingyu Tang1, Dong Wang1, Xing Tong1
1Department of Respiratory Medicine, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 1678 Dongfang Rd, Shanghai, 200127, China.
Background:
Due to the lack of a sensitive, specific and rapid detection method, aetiological diagnosis of pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae, MP) is a constantly challenging issue. This retrospective study aimed to compare the diagnostic methods for Mycoplasma pneumoniae in children and evaluate their values.
Methods:
From November 2018 to June 2019, 830 children with community-acquired pneumonia were selected from the Department of Respiratory Medicine, Shanghai Children's Medical Center. On the first day of hospitalization, sputum, throat swab and venous blood samples were collected to analyse MP-IgM (particle agglutination, PA), MP-IgM (immune colloidal gold technique, GICT), MP-DNA, MP-RNA (simultaneous amplification and testing, SAT) and MP-DNA (real-time polymerase chain reaction, RT-PCR).
Results:
Among these 830 children, RT-PCR showed that the positive rate was 36.6% (304/830), in which the positive rate of macrolide resistance (A2063G mutation) accounted for 86.2% of cases (262/304). Using RT-PCR as the standard, MP-RNA (SAT) had the highest specificity (97.5%), and MP-IgM (PA) had the highest sensitivity (74.0%) and Youden index (53.7%). If MP-RNA (SAT) was combined with MP-IgM (PA), its Kappa value (0.602), sensitivity (84.2%), specificity (78.7%) and Youden index (62.9%) were higher than those of single M. pneumoniae detection.
Conclusions:
Our research indicated that a combination of MP-RNA (SAT) plus MP-IgM (PA) might lead to reliable results as an early diagnostic method for children with clinical manifestations of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia.
Insights
Diagnosing Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in children is challenging. Combining MP-RNA (SAT) and MP-IgM (PA) tests offers a reliable early diagnostic method with improved sensitivity and specificity.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Respiratory Medicine
- Infectious Disease Diagnostics
- Microbiology
Background:
- Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) pneumonia diagnosis lacks sensitive, specific, and rapid methods.
- Accurate etiological diagnosis of MP pneumonia in children remains a challenge.
- This study evaluates and compares diagnostic methods for MP in pediatric patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the diagnostic performance of various methods for Mycoplasma pneumoniae in children.
- To evaluate the clinical utility of different diagnostic techniques for MP pneumonia.
- To identify the most effective diagnostic strategy for early detection of MP pneumonia.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 830 children with community-acquired pneumonia.
- Collection of sputum, throat swab, and blood samples for MP testing.
- Analysis included MP-IgM (PA), MP-IgM (GICT), MP-DNA, MP-RNA (SAT), and MP-DNA (RT-PCR).
Main Results:
- RT-PCR detected MP in 36.6% of cases, with 86.2% macrolide resistance (A2063G mutation).
- MP-RNA (SAT) showed the highest specificity (97.5%), while MP-IgM (PA) had the highest sensitivity (74.0%).
- Combining MP-RNA (SAT) and MP-IgM (PA) improved diagnostic accuracy (Kappa 0.602, sensitivity 84.2%, specificity 78.7%).
Conclusions:
- A combination of MP-RNA (SAT) and MP-IgM (PA) provides reliable early diagnostic results.
- This combined approach enhances sensitivity and specificity for Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in children.
- The findings suggest a valuable strategy for early etiological diagnosis in pediatric MP pneumonia.
