We assessed the performance of a recently validated real-time PCR assay and a commercially available microimmunofluorescence serologic test for the detection of Chlamydophila pneumoniae infection during an outbreak. Evaluation of specimens from 137 individuals suggests that real-time PCR holds greater utility as a diagnostic tool for early C. pneumoniae detection.

03/29/13 • Patient 1 (49-year old police officer, immunocompetent) is admitted to the emergency room of the University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf after having suffered for one week from symptoms of pneumonia. • Patient is diagnosed with ARDS and mechanically ventilated in intensive care unit. • CRP (238mg/l) and CK (402) levels elevated, PCT: 71 • Leukocytosis (mainly neutrophils) • Antib...

Respiratory culture and multiplex PCR for Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Chlamydophila pneumoniae were applied to sputum, nasopharyngeal swabs, and nasopharyngeal aspirates from 235 adult patients with community-acquired pneumonia and 113 controls. Both culture and multiplex PCR performed well with the different samples and appear to be useful as di...

■ EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER Erythromycin, clarithromycin, and azithromycin are equally effective in treating pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae or Chlamydophila (formerly Chlamydia) pneumoniae (strength of recommendation [SOR]: B, small head-to-head trials). Macrolide choice can be based on other considerations—cost, side effects, and effectiveness against other suspected pathogens (SOR: C, ...

To evaluate a newly developed immunochromatographic test (the MySet test) for the detection of Chlamydophila pneumoniae-specific immunoglobulin M antibodies, the results obtained by the MySet test were compared with those obtained by two serological tests. The sensitivity and specificity of the MySet test were 100% and 92.9%, respectively. The MySet test is rapid and simple to use and is though...

A difference between prokaryotic RNase HII and HIII, which both belong to type 2 RNase H, is a long N-terminal extension of HIII; however, the main-fold structures of HII and HIII known as RNase H-fold are similar. To further understand the structure-function relationship of RNase HII and RNase HIII, biochemical analyses were carried out using N-terminal truncations of RNase HIII (IIIN56(Δ), II...