Application of culture method, serological method and PCR method in diagnosis of mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in children

Objective To investigate the application effects of culture, serology and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on clinical diagnosis of mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) infection in children. Methods A total of 360 children with MP admitted and diagnosed in Zhengzhou Yihe Hospital from June 2013 to June 2016 were selected. Those cases were detected by the method of culture, serology and PCR respectively. The positive rates of MP in children of all age were recorded, and results of PCR method were set as golden standard, then the sensitivity and specificity of culture and serology by PCR method was calculated. Results There were differences in the positive rate of MP detection among the method of culture, serology and PCR in children of different ages. The positive rate of MP by PCR method (33.33%) was significantly higher than that of culture method (12.78%, P<0.01), and lower than that of the serology method (58.89%, P<0.01). With PCR as golden standard, the sensitivity of culture method was 38.33%(46/120), and the specificity was 100.00%(240/240); the sensitivity of serology method was 87.50% (105/120), and the specificity was 55.42% (133/240). Conclusion In MP detection, culture method has lowest positive detection rate and less sensitivity, serology method has highest positive detection rate but sufficient specificity. Serology method combined with PCR method is recommended to diagnose MP in clinics. Key words: Culture method; Serological method; Polymerase chain reaction method; Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection; Diagnosis