Multiplex PCR for rapid and differential diagnosis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae in respiratory infections

A duplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was developed for the simultaneous detection of Chlamydia pneumoniae and Mycoplasma pneumoniae. A study of 16 3 respiratory specimens from in-patients of the "Centre Hospitalier et Univ ersitaire de Nancy" showed the good sensitivity of this duplex PCR allowing the detection of C. pneumoniae and M. pneumoniae from 8 and 13 patients, r espectively, whereas the culture was negative for C. pneumoniae for all the samples and positive for M. pneumoniae only in 9 cases. The value of these results has been confirmed by running on the same samples specific nested PCRs for these two microorganisms that gave the same results. Thus, the pro posed duplex amplification technique may facilitate the diagnosis of infect ion by these two agents that are difficult to isolate. (C) 1999 Elsevier Sc ience Inc.