Chlamydia pneumoniae and Mycoplasma pneumoniae in children with acute respiratory infection in general practices in the Netherlands

In this retrospective study Chlamydia pneumoniae and Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in samples (n = 457) from children presenting with acute respiratory infection to general practitioners during 1992-97, Samples were collected in autumn and winter, and from 1994 onwards in spring and summer also, Overall, C. pneumoniae and M. pneumoniae were detected in throat or nasal samples by PCR in 3.1% and 2.4% of the cases, respectively, The proportion of both C, pneumoniae and M , pneumoniae infections varied between 0% and 6.9% over the years studied, whereas seasonal proportions varied from 1.8 to 9.1% and 1.2 to 4.5%, respe ctively. For both microorganisms the lowest proportion was detected during winter and the highest in summer. C, pneumoniae could already be detected b y PCR in patients under 4 y of ape, an observation not made in sero-epidemi ological studies. In conclusion, both C, pneumoniae and M. pneumoniae infec tions play a minor role in children presenting with acute respiratory infec tion.