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Isolation of Mycoplasma pneumoniae from asthmatic patients
J C Gil1, R L Cedillo, B G Mayagoitia
1Microbiological Research Center, Puebla University, Mexico.
Abstract:
Asthmatic patients frequently develop wheezing after respiratory tract infection. Mycoplasma pneumoniae causes respiratory tract infections in children and in adults. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of recovery of M. pneumoniae from patients with asthma. Seventy-seven patients with asthma and 88 persons without asthma or any other respiratory tract disease (controls) were included in the study. Ages ranged from 8 months to 31 years. Throat swabs were taken and deposited in egg yolk broth with methylene blue in order to isolate M. pneumoniae. The bacterium was identified using inhibition of growth with homologous antiserum. The isolation rate in patients with asthma was 24.7% while that in controls was 5.7% (P < .01). The results suggest that M. pneumoniae colonizes a higher percentage of patients with asthma than controls and could possibly have induced the wheezing.
Insights
Mycoplasma pneumoniae was recovered more frequently from patients with asthma than from healthy individuals. This suggests the bacterium may play a role in asthma-related wheezing in children and adults.
Area of Science:
- Respiratory Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
Background:
- Asthma exacerbations, particularly wheezing, are often preceded by respiratory tract infections.
- Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a common cause of respiratory infections in both pediatric and adult populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the frequency of Mycoplasma pneumoniae recovery in individuals diagnosed with asthma.
- To compare M. pneumoniae isolation rates between asthmatic patients and a control group without respiratory conditions.
Main Methods:
- Throat swabs were collected from 77 asthma patients and 88 controls (ages 8 months to 31 years).
- Samples were cultured in egg yolk broth with methylene blue for M. pneumoniae isolation.
- Bacterial identification was confirmed using homologous antiserum.
Main Results:
- Mycoplasma pneumoniae was isolated from 24.7% of asthma patients.
- The isolation rate in the control group was significantly lower at 5.7% (P < .01).
Conclusions:
- Mycoplasma pneumoniae colonization is more prevalent in asthma patients compared to individuals without respiratory disease.
- These findings suggest a potential role for M. pneumoniae in inducing wheezing episodes in asthmatic individuals.