Epidemiology of infections caused by Chlamydophila pneumoniae in patients with chronic cough

Abstract

Background: Chlamydophila pneumoniae is an important etiological agent in respiratory system infections. The aim of study was to analyze the rate of Chlamydophila pneumoniae infection in adults and children and also to determine a correlation between the presence of this pathogen and symptoms of chronic cough. Material/Methods: The material for the study included swabs from the posterior pharyngeal wall taken on an empty stomach without cleaning the mouth. The diagnostic method was indirect immunofluorescence test (IIFT), which uses two types of antibodies: monoclonal mouse antibodies, which link specifically with the antigen that is present in the tested material and goat anti-mouse antibodies linked to fluorescein isothiocyanate, providing the colour reaction with C. pneumoniae antigen. Results: In our research, 593 patients, including 319 women, 175 men, aged from 18 to 87 years and a group of 99 children aged from 2 to 17 years with symptoms of chronic cough n=432 and other respiratory manifestations n=161 were studied. In the group of studied women with cough, 28.2% (64/227) of results were positive. In the group of men with cough, 22.3% (27/121) of results were positive. In the group of children with a cough, 28.6% (24/84) of the results were positive. Conclusions: In the examined group of children and adults with a chronic cough, the C. pneumoniae antigen was detected. The frequency of detection of C. pneumoniae antigen differed depending on the age group of both children and adults with symptoms of chronic cough.