Easy and rapid diagnosis of Mycoplasma pneumonia: is it possible?

Background Atypical pneumonia (AP) with its different pathogens comprises a reasonable ratio of community-acquired pneumonia. Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae) constitutes a known pathogen causing AP with pulmonary and extrapulmonary symptoms that necessitate early diagnosis and treatment. Serology and culture give diagnosis but after few days of infection onset. Aim Study the incidence of M. pneumonia using PCR and relation to clinical symptoms. Settings and design Comprehensive, prospective study. Materials and methods A total of 80 patients with suspected AP were examined for clinical symptoms and signs such as cough, crepitations, arrhythmia and conscious level, and sputum was investigated using PCR for M. pneumoniae. Those with dry cough were subjected to fiberoptic-bronchoscopic bronchoalveolar lavage and the fluid was examined by PCR. Statistical analysis Data were analyzed with the SPSS 22 software package. Results Using the PCR method; M. pneumonia was 42%, mostly by bronchoscopic lavage because of dry cough, with significant correlation to arrhythmia, disturbed consciousness, and positive radiologic infiltrations (74, 65,76%, respectively). Conclusion PCR is considered a highly specific diagnostic method for M. pneumonia. AP incidence is high in our region with special consideration to M. pneumonia as a causative agent with high percentage.