Symptoms and treatment of chlamydia pneumonia. Features of symptoms and treatment of chlamydia pneumoniae

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Pulmonologist

Mycoplasma pneumonia in adults is an inflammation of the lungs of an atypical group, when the inflammatory process is provoked by the mycoplasma bacterium.

Among pneumonias, this pathology is quite common and accounts for more than a third of all pulmonary lesions of a non-bacterial nature. The disease can be isolated (random) or widespread (epidemic).

The peak of infection occurs in the cold season (autumn, winter). Children and young people under the age of 37-40 are most susceptible to infection. ICD-10: J15.7

Microbiology

Mycoplasmosis is the result of infection of the lungs by a pathogenic microorganism Mycoplasma pneumoniae. According to taxonomy, it belongs to the category of anaerobic with high virulence.

In Mycoplasma pneumoniae, the microbiology is as follows. These are very small prokaryotic organisms, similar in size to viruses, and in structure to the bacterial L-form, since they do not have a cell wall. They are adsorbed on epithelial cells and attached to membranes or penetrate into cells.

The fixation of mycoplasma in tissues excites an autoimmune reaction, and the formation of autoantibodies provokes corresponding manifestations of the disease. This microorganism can persist for a long time in epithelial cells and the ring of the lymphopharyngeal zone. Accumulating in nasopharyngeal mucus, it easily... Outside the human body, the infection has little resistance.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae causes not only pneumonia, it also becomes the culprit of bronchial asthma, pharyngitis, COPD, as well as some non-respiratory diseases:

meningitis;
otitis;
pericarditis;
others.

The absence of a cell wall makes mycoplasma highly resistant to many drugs, in particular to β-lactam antibiotics (penicillins and cephalosporins).

Ways of infection of bacteria

The source of pathogenic mycoplasma is a sick person, but you can also become infected from a carrier of the infection who does not show signs of illness due to high immune defense. The most common method of infection is the aerogenic mechanism, when the pathogen is transmitted by airborne droplets (coughing, sneezing, close contact).

Most often, infection occurs in groups. In principle, infection is possible through sputum that gets on things or any objects. However, the contact-household method is rarely recorded due to the low viability of the pathogen in the external environment.

The incubation period is 2-4 weeks. During this time, mycoplasma penetrates the mucous membrane of the bronchi and trachea through the pharynx and larynx.

Having attached itself to the epithelium of the respiratory tract, it affects cellular bridges and disrupts the tissue structure.

Diagnostics

One of the most common methods for diagnosing pneumonia is considered. However, in the case of mycoplasma etiology in the initial period, the x-ray technique is not able to detect pathology. Early diagnosis becomes possible by:

serotyping;
blood test for PCR;
enzyme immunoassay (ELISA).

Widely used:

aggregate hemagglutination reactions (AHA);
complement fixation (CFC);
indirect immunofluorescence (IRIF).

Blood test for antibodies

All of these technologies are based on the detection in blood serum and secretions of specific antibodies to mycoplasma, which are produced by the immune system in response to infection. During primary infection, early antibodies are produced - immunoglobulins class M. An increase in their level (IgM) indicates the onset of an acute inflammatory reaction.

As immune proteins are produced, IgM decreases, but other antibodies appear - immunoglobulins G. Their level (IgG) indicates the duration of the process or the fact that the body has previously been affected by mycoplasma. Thus, antibodies to mycoplasma pneumonia IgM and IgG indicate not only the penetration of the infection, but also the duration and severity of the lesion .

When the analysis is deciphered, mycoplasma pneumonia is detected by the following indicators:

Negative results for IgM and IgG indicate the absence of infection.
IgG antibodies detected, that is, the result for IgG is (+), but the result for IgM is negative (-). This indicates that infection has occurred, but the pathogen is suppressed, and immunity to it has been formed. Treatment may not be necessary, but monitoring should be ensured.
Antibodies to Mycoplasma pneumoniae IgG are absent, that is, IgG – (-), while IgM is positive (+). Such an analysis indicates the onset of acute development of pneumonia, and adequate treatment is necessary.
IgG is positive (+), IgM is also positive (+). This means that the body previously suffered a similar infection, but re-infection occurred, and the process begins to take on an acute form. The immune system cannot cope and appropriate treatment is necessary.
IgM antibodies are detected within 4-5 days after infection, and the indicator gradually increases. IgG immunoglobulins appear 17-20 days after infection. They remain in the blood for 2-3 years after complete recovery. To identify all antibodies, studies are carried out several times with an interval of 10-14 days.

The course of mycoplasma pneumonia can be aggravated by the activation of cold antibodies (agglutinins). They appear as a reaction to hypothermia or cold drinking. As a result, the likelihood of developing dangerous pathological reactions – hemolysis and acrocyanosis – increases.

Important! Activation of cold antibodies is detected by a corresponding increase in IgM. RAGA helps to recognize this change. The accumulation of antibodies on red blood cells can be determined by the Coombs test.

Clinical symptoms

The incubation period is usually 13-15 days, but can last up to a month. In the initial period, the following symptoms are characteristic:

headache;
general weakness;
sore and dry throat;
runny nose;
low-grade fever.

One of the characteristic features is. At first it is unproductive, but gradually viscous sputum with mucus begins to appear.

More obvious symptoms appear 5-7 days after the first signs. Body temperature rises to 39.5-40 degrees and remains at a high level for 6-7 days, after which it again becomes subfebrile.

It appears pronounced and intensifies with a deep breath. Extrapulmonary symptoms are also detected:

skin rash;
myalgia;
insomnia;
discomfort in the stomach;
paresthesia.

Pneumonia is usually accompanied by diseases of the upper respiratory tract (rhinopharyngobronchitis, pharyngobronchitis, rhinobronchitis, bronchiolitis).

Treatment

The treatment regimen depends on. In the acute form, treatment is carried out in a hospital setting with quarantine. It is based on antibiotic treatment with the following groups of drugs:

macrolides;
fluoroquinolones;
tetracyclines.

The course of taking antibiotics is 13-15 days, with preference given to a step-by-step scheme (at the initial stage - injections, and then - orally).

Depending on the manifestations of pneumonia, symptomatic therapy with prescription:

bronchodilators;
painkillers and expectorants;
antipyretics;
immunostimulants;
hormones.

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Conclusion

Mycoplasma pneumonia is a special form of pneumonia that requires a specific approach to diagnosis and treatment. Only modern techniques make it possible to timely identify the nature of the pathology, and therefore determine the optimal treatment regimen. In its advanced form, the disease can lead to serious consequences, including death.

is an infectious-inflammatory process in the lungs caused by obligate intracellular bacteria of the genus Chlamydia and Chlamydophila. Chlamydial pneumonia is characterized by respiratory manifestations (rhinitis, tracheobronchitis), unproductive cough, low-grade and febrile temperature, extrapulmonary symptoms (arthralgia, myalgia). When making a diagnosis, auscultatory and radiological data are taken into account, but the decisive role belongs to laboratory diagnostics (ELISA, MIF, PCR, etc.). For the treatment of chlamydial pneumonia, antimicrobial agents (macrolides, tetracyclines, fluoroquinolones), immunomodulators, and physiotherapy are used.

ICD-10

J16.0 Pneumonia caused by chlamydia

General information

Chlamydial pneumonia is an etiological type of atypical pneumonia that occurs when the respiratory tract is infected with various types of chlamydia - Ch. pneumoniae, Ch. psittaci and Ch. trachomatis. It is believed that annually among community-acquired pneumonia from 5 to 15% of cases are caused by chlamydia; during epidemic outbreaks this figure can be 25%. Most often, adults become ill; cases of chlamydial pneumonia in newborns are associated with infection from mothers with urogenital chlamydia. Asymptomatic carriage of chlamydia in the nasopharynx is detected in more than half of adults and 5-7% of children, so the likelihood of transmission of infection through respiratory secretions is very high. Intrafamily outbreaks of chlamydial pneumonia, as well as cases of mass morbidity in isolated communities, have been described.

Causes

Of the variety of representatives of the Chlamydiaceae family, three types of chlamydia are of practical interest for pulmonology in etiological terms: Chlamydophila pneumoniae, Chlamydia trachomatis and Chlamydophila psittaci. The most common causative agent of respiratory chlamydia (including chlamydial pharyngitis, sinusitis, bronchitis, pneumonia) in patients of all ages is Ch. pneumoniae With Ch. trachomatis is associated with the incidence of trachoma, genitourinary chlamydia, lymphogranuloma venereum, as well as chlamydial pneumonia among newborns and infants up to 6 months. Pneumonia in immunocompromised individuals and laboratory workers is also associated with this type of chlamydia. Ch. psittaci is considered to be the causative agent of ornithosis (psittacosis), often occurring in the form of severe interstitial pneumonia.

The routes of infection for each type of chlamydia are different, but all types can spread hematogenously. Transfer Ch. pneumoniae from person to person is carried out mainly by airborne droplets and contact-household routes. Infection with Ch. psittaci occurs through the airborne dust or fecal-oral route when inhaling dust or eating food containing biological secretions of birds that carry the infection (parrots, canaries, chickens, ducks, pigeons, sparrows, etc.). Infection of newborns with Ch. trachomatis occurs during childbirth from mothers with urogenital chlamydial infection. With intrapartum infection, 15-25% of infants develop chlamydial nasopharyngitis and conjunctivitis, which are often complicated by pneumonia.

Pathogenesis

Symptoms of chlamydial pneumonia

Pneumonia caused by Chlamydophila pneumoniae

Chlamydial pneumonia caused by Ch. pneumoniae, most often affects children and young people aged 5 to 35 years. Among the causes of community-acquired pneumonia in this age group, chlamydia is second only to Mycoplasma pneumoniae.

The onset of the disease is acute or gradual. In the first case, the symptoms of intoxication and damage to the respiratory tract reach their maximum severity already on the 3rd day. In the subacute course, chlamydial pneumonia manifests itself with respiratory syndrome (rhinitis, nasopharyngitis, laryngitis), chills, low-grade fever, and therefore, in the first week of the disease, patients are mistakenly diagnosed with acute respiratory infections. Mainly, patients are concerned about nasal congestion, impaired nasal breathing, moderate mucous discharge from the nose, and hoarseness.

Pneumonia itself can develop within 1 to 4 weeks after the onset of respiratory symptoms. Body temperature rises to 38-39°C, weakness increases, myalgia and headache bother me. In all cases, along with fever, a dry or wet paroxysmal cough and chest pain appear. The course of chlamydial pneumonia is protracted; a painful cough and malaise can persist for up to several months. The most common complications are otitis media, sinusitis, and reactive arthritis.

Pneumonia caused by Chlamydia trachomatis

Onset is often gradual; In children, chlamydial pneumonia is often preceded by conjunctivitis, acute otitis media or bronchitis of the same etiology. An early sign is a dry cough, which, as it intensifies, becomes paroxysmal. Against the background of coughing attacks, the child experiences tachypnea, cyanosis and vomiting, but there are no recurrences. Gradually, there is a worsening of shortness of breath, an increase in respiratory rate to 50-70 per minute, breathing becomes grunting. However, the general condition usually remains satisfactory, symptoms of intoxication and respiratory failure are mild.

The auscultatory and radiological picture of bilateral chlamydial pneumonia develops towards the end of the first - at the beginning of the second week. At the height of the disease, symptoms of enterocolitis and hepatosplenomegaly may appear. Recovery often takes many weeks and months. In severe forms of chlamydial pneumonia, pneumothorax, pleurisy, and abscess formation may occur. Extrapulmonary complications include myocarditis, endocarditis, and meningoencephalitis. Children who have had chlamydial pneumonia caused by Ch. trachomatis, subsequently more often suffer from bronchial asthma and other chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases.

Pneumonia caused by Chlamydophila psittaci (Ornithosis)

The clinical course of psittacosis varies, from asymptomatic to severe. The most striking symptom is high (up to 39.5-40°C and above) body temperature, accompanied by chills and severe intoxication (severe weakness, headache, arthralgia, myalgia). In the absence of other symptoms, this condition is often regarded as fever of unknown origin.

Subsequently, in more than half of the cases, an unproductive cough, chest pain, and enlarged liver and spleen occur. Characteristic signs indicating the chlamydial etiology of pneumonia are signs of neurotoxicosis, a spotty rash on the skin, and nosebleeds. Digestive disorders often occur: nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea or constipation.

Clinical and radiological changes may persist for 4-6 weeks. Typical complications of psittacosis are hepatitis, disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome, venous thrombosis, hemolytic anemia, polyneuropathy, and myocarditis.

Diagnostics

Difficulties in establishing an etiological diagnosis are due to the fact that, unlike bacterial pneumonia, with chlamydial pneumonia there are no clear physical and radiological signs, as well as characteristic changes in the peripheral blood. In these conditions, therapists and pulmonologists have to focus mainly on the indications of the anamnesis, features of the clinical picture and confirm their suspicions with laboratory methods (ELISA, PCR, etc.).

Auscultatory findings are variable: breathing may be harsh, bronchial, or weakened vesicular; wheezing at the height of the disease is often wet or crepitating. Percussion sound is usually dull. X-ray of the lungs reveals focal, segmental or lobar infiltration or interstitial changes.

Laboratory methods are used to confirm chlamydial pneumonia. The most specific and sensitive of them is the cultural method of isolating the pathogen, however, due to the length and laboriousness of diagnosis, in practice they are usually limited to serotyping. The standard for detecting chlamydial pneumonia today is ELISA and MIF (microimmunofluorescence reaction). When conducting ELISA, the activity of chlamydial infection will be indicated by an increase in the titer of specific IgM, IgG and IgA of more than 1:16, 1:512 and 1:256, respectively; MYTH - an increase in the IgG/IgA titer in paired blood sera by 4 or more times. PCR analysis allows you to quickly and accurately identify the DNA of the pathogen, but does not allow you to distinguish a persistent infection from an active one.

Differential diagnosis of chlamydial pneumonia should be carried out with influenza, whooping cough; viral, mycoplasma, legionella, fungal pneumonia and other atypical pulmonary infections.

Treatment of chlamydial pneumonia

The difficulty of effective treatment of chlamydial pneumonia is associated with the fact that chlamydia is present in the body simultaneously in both extracellular and intracellular forms, so it is necessary to act on both of these links. In addition, activation of infection, as a rule, occurs against the background of suppressed immunity, which also requires correction of the immune response.

Antimicrobial drugs from the groups of macrolides, fluoroquinolones and tetracyclines are recognized as eradication therapy for chlamydial pneumonia. The most preferred among them are macrolides, since they can be used for the treatment of newborns, children and pregnant women. Of the drugs in this group, clarithromycin, josamycin, erythromycin, and spiramycin have the greatest activity against chlamydia. Fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, levofloxacin) and tetracyclines (doxycycline, monocycline) also successfully cope with chlamydial infection, but the use of the latter is excluded during pregnancy and liver failure. The duration of the course of antimicrobial treatment for chlamydial pneumonia is at least 2–3 weeks.

In order to correct immunological disorders, as well as prevent relapse of infection, in addition to antimicrobial agents, immunomodulators, vitamins, and probiotics are prescribed. During the period of convalescence, much attention is paid to physiotherapy and breathing exercises.

Forecast

In young patients with no concomitant pathology, chlamydial pneumonia usually ends in recovery. Among the elderly, deaths occur in 6-10% of cases. Observations by specialists indicate a possible etiological role of Ch. pneumoniae in the development of atherosclerosis, pulmonary sarcoidosis, ischemic stroke, Alzheimer's disease, therefore, chlamydial pneumonia can have far-reaching consequences. The negative effect of respiratory chlamydia on the course of bronchial asthma and the frequency of its exacerbations has been clearly proven.

More about the study

Mycoplasma pneumonia (sometimes called “atypical pneumonia”) constitutes up to 15-20% of all cases of community-acquired pneumonia. Sometimes they can lead to entire epidemics, especially in school-age children and in closed population groups, such as the military. The source of infection is both patients and carriers. Infection occurs by airborne droplets, the incubation period lasts 2-3 weeks. Symptoms of mycoplasma infection vary. In most cases, the disease is mild and is accompanied by cough, runny nose, and sore throat that persist for several weeks. When the infection spreads to the lower respiratory tract, headaches, intoxication, fever, and muscle pain occur. Pneumonia is most severely affected by young children, as well as people with weakened immune systems, such as HIV patients.

Making a diagnosis of “mycoplasma infection” is often difficult, so several research methods are used, in which serological tests play a leading role.

In response to infection with Mycoplasma pneumoniae, the immune system produces specific immunoglobulins: IgA, IgM and IgG.

The production of class G immunoglobulins to Mycoplasma pneumoniae does not begin immediately after infection, after about 2-4 weeks, but continues for a long period (a year or more).

The presence of class G immunoglobulins to Mycoplasma pneumoniae in the blood indicates an acute or past illness, a chronic inflammatory process or reinfection.

What is the research used for?

To confirm current illness (including reinfection) caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae.
For the differential diagnosis of mycoplasma pneumonia and other infectious diseases of the respiratory tract, such as pneumonia caused by streptococci or staphylococci.
For the diagnosis of mycoplasma infection in chronic inflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract.

When is the study scheduled?

For symptoms of illness caused by mycoplasma (nonproductive cough that may persist for several weeks, fever, sore throat, headaches and muscle pain).
If a chronic or persistent form of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection is suspected, manifested by frequent relapses.

The causative agent Mycoplasma pneumoniae (mycoplasma pneumonia) causes symptoms of inflammation in the upper and lower respiratory tract. Children under 5 years of age are most often infected.

This pathogen is transmitted by airborne droplets. Until the middle of the last century, mycoplasma was considered a virus, since it is often combined with influenza and adenovirus in children, and with parainfluenza in adults.

Mycoplasmas are a fairly specific type of microorganism. Their peculiarity is that they do not have a cell wall. In size they are close to viruses, but in morphology and cellular organization they are similar to the L-forms of bacteria.

A total of twelve species of mycoplasmas have been isolated from the human genitourinary tract and nasopharynx. Only Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Mycoplasma hominis and Mycoplasma urealyticum have pathogenic properties. While Mycoplasma pneumoniae affects the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract, Mycoplasma hominis and Mycoplasma urealyticum cause diseases of the genitourinary system (urethritis, vaginitis, cervicitis).

In young children, the inflammatory process often becomes chronic. This is due to delayed treatment.

This microorganism is similar in structure to the human body’s own cells. It is because of this that antibodies are produced late. They can infect the body's own tissues, triggering the development of autoimmune processes. If there is no adequate treatment, mycoplasma pneumonia, causing pneumonia, causes serious consequences.

Initially, mycoplasma pneumonia causes nonspecific symptoms. These may include the following phenomena:

sore throat;
mild fever;
headache;
chills;
runny nose;
hysterical dry cough.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae causes pharyngitis, bronchitis, sinusitis, rhinitis, laryngitis, bronchiolitis. Any of these diseases can develop into pneumonia.

Mycoplasma pneumonia is difficult to diagnose in children and adults; treatment often begins late. This is due to the fact that the clinic is a blur. Most often, the symptoms that mycoplasma pneumonia causes in the body are mistaken for signs of the influenza virus. Mycoplasmosis also has common features with pneumonia caused by chlamydia. Chlamydial and mycoplasma pneumonia require similar treatment.

Diagnosis of mycoplasmosis

The idea of atypical pneumonia is suggested by the anamnesis, examination data and erased symptoms with a lingering cough. But with a routine analysis, there are no changes in peripheral blood that are characteristic specifically of mycoplasma inflammation.

X-ray examination shows an increased pulmonary pattern and small focal shadows mainly in the lower parts of one or both lungs.

Importance of IgG antibodies in mycoplasma pneumonia

To confirm the diagnosis, a blood test is performed for Ig to Mycoplasma pneumoniae M, A, G. This is done at intervals of 2-4 weeks. A single measurement of antibody titers does not provide a 100% diagnostic result. In adults, the increase in IgM levels is insignificant. In children, IgG levels often remain normal. Only an increase in antibody titer over time is an indicator of the presence of mycoplasma.

The earliest antibodies are specific immunoglobulins M. They appear after the first week of illness and indicate the development of an acute process.

An increase in IgM can be observed within a month. After recovery, they should not be present in the peripheral blood, however, according to some studies, a gradual decrease in the titer of these antibodies occurs within a year after the disease. Diagnostic errors can be prevented by simultaneous blood testing for IgM and IgG content. When reinitiated, IgM is usually not released.

If only IgG antibodies to mycoplasma pneumonia are detected, this indicates a past infection. At the beginning of the acute phase of the disease, this phenomenon is absent.

The IgG level for Mycoplasma pneumoniae may remain positive for several years after the illness. Acquired immunity is not stable. Reinfection and re-infection are possible. In this case, Ig antibodies to mycoplasma pneumonia G will increase.

Due to the similarity of symptoms to those caused by the influenza virus, cases of self-medication are very common. For example, parents can even remove the external manifestations of the disease from their children by symptomatic means, but the pathogen remains in the body. As a result, the disease progresses and causes complications.

In the first three weeks of the disease, extrapulmonary complications develop. Their character does not depend on the age of the patient.

Neurological complications of mycoplasma pneumonia are transverse myelitis, encephalitis, meningitis, meningoencephalitis, ascending paralysis. Even with proper therapy, recovery is very slow.

From the first weeks of illness, cold antibodies can be detected in the blood. There is a possibility of developing renal failure, thrombocytopenia, and DIC syndrome.

Every fourth patient develops a rash and conjunctivitis. These phenomena disappear within 2 weeks.

Occasionally, complications such as myocarditis and pericarditis occur. Changes in the electrocardiogram in the form of AV block can be detected even in the absence of complaints.

In 25% of children, mycoplasma pneumonia is accompanied by dyspepsia - diarrhea, nausea, vomiting. Arthritis is associated with the production of antibodies.

Specific antibacterial therapy should be started as soon as mycoplasmosis is suspected. The drug of choice is erythromycin: children are prescribed 20-50 mg per day orally (in 3-4 doses), and adults - 250-500 mg every 6 hours.

In adults and older children, erythromycin can be replaced by tetracycline. It is prescribed 250-500 mg orally every 6 hours. Another treatment option is 100 mg of doxycycline orally every 12 hours. As for clindamycin, it is active against the pathogen in vitro, but in vivo it does not always have the desired effect, therefore, it is not the drug of choice.

Fluoroquinolones actin in vitro, but not as much as tetracyclines and macrolides. It is not recommended to use it for mycoplasmosis. Azithromycin and clarithromycin are as active as erythromycin, and even superior to it. They are also easier to carry.

Additional measures - symptomatic treatment, drinking plenty of fluids, bed rest. A favorable course of the disease implies recovery within 1-2 weeks from the start of taking antibiotics.

For antibodies to mycoplasma? When pathogenic microbes enter the body, the human immune system turns on the body’s protective function, which begins to produce antibodies aimed at neutralizing the foreign infection.

That is, an immune response to foreign agents begins to form in the body of a mycoplasma carrier.

At each stage of infection, certain proteins are produced - globulin fractions that form in the serum blood.

A/T is what antibodies are sometimes called in everyday medical practice.

It is on this characteristic feature that the basic principle of ELISA is built, which makes it possible to establish how long ago the infection of the body occurred. After all, traces of infection are detected in a blood test both immediately after infection with microbes and after the formation of an immune response to their presence.

Therefore, antibodies detected as a result of laboratory analysis of antibodies to mycoplasma accurately indicate the duration of infection, as well as the acute or chronic form of the disease, primary or secondary infection.

The presence of a/t - IgM indicates that the infectious-inflammatory process is acute, and a/t IgG - will allow us to understand that the body was already familiar with this pathogenic agent and the body has developed immune proteins against it.

If the analysis contains indicators of both antibodies, then, most likely, an exacerbation of chronic disease has occurred. Infection rarely develops lasting immunity to microbes. Most often this occurs with pneumonia caused by. In severe cases of the disease, antibodies to mycoplasma can persist for more than 5 years.

How are antibodies to mycoplasma in the blood determined?

For the study, venous blood is taken.

Antibodies to or are detected by ELISA, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent test (ELISA).

This is a serological reaction, so the study must be carried out no earlier than the 5th day from the suspected infection.

The ability to determine the full set of antibodies is possible from the 2nd week of the disease. Testing during the serological window will give a false negative result.

Important! There are qualitative and quantitative enzyme immunoassays.

Qualitative ELISA determines whether antibodies to Mycoplasma hominis are present in the body. A quantitative test provides a more complete picture of the infectious process.

For high-quality laboratory diagnostics, it is important to correctly obtain clinical material for research from the patient.

To obtain the most reliable research result, it is recommended to meet a number of requirements:

Donate biomaterial before the start of treatment or no earlier than 1 month after the end of antibacterial therapy;
Observe the time frame for obtaining biomaterial: a) from the urethra no earlier than 3 hours after the last urination, b) in the presence of heavy urethral discharge - 15-20 minutes after urination, c) from the cervical canal and vagina before menstruation or after 1-2 days after its completion;
Take biomaterial in sufficient quantity for laboratory research.

The advantages of the method are:

the possibility of using a variety of biological material (scraping, urine, prostate secretions, sperm, saliva, synovial fluid) depending on the location of the expected localization of the pathogen;
the high sensitivity of the method allows for early diagnosis of urogenital infections and diseases;
high speed of analysis.

Interpretation of ELISA analysis results

IgM - negative (-), IgG - negative (-) - no infection detected;
IgM – negative (-), IgG – positive (+) – immunity has been formed in the body for a given period of time. No treatment is required;
IgM – positive (+), IgG – negative (-) – the body has recently been infected with microbes, the inflammatory process occurs in an acute form. Treatment required;
IgM – positive (+), IgG – positive (+) – secondary infection of the body with mycoplasma infection has occurred;

What are IgA antibodies to mycoplasma?

Antibodies of this class appear in the blood 10–14 days after infection.

Their main function is to protect the mucous membranes from the action of the pathogen.

The decrease in the level of these immunoglobulins begins between 2 and 4 months of illness.

Important! Antibodies to mycoplasma of the IgA class do not decrease with ineffective treatment. Therefore, such an analysis can be used to monitor therapy.

What is the test for IgA antibodies to mycoplasma pneumonia used for?

This diagnostic procedure is the main one for confirming the presence or absence of a current disease (including for diagnosing reinfection - that is, re-infection after recovery).

In addition, this analysis is necessary to confirm the diagnosis with the etiological agent Mycoplasma pneumoniae in persistent or chronic forms of infection, when there are no manifest manifestations (obvious clinical signs of the presence of an infectious process), with an erased clinical picture, as well as when superimposing a clinical picture of functional changes in the body.

Determination of IgA antibodies to mycoplasma pneumonia is the basis for differential diagnosis of mycoplasma infection from other infections, for example, respiratory tract lesions of staphylococcal or streptococcal nature.

Importance of IgG antibodies in mycoplasma pneumonia

To confirm the diagnosis, a blood test is performed for Ig to Mycoplasma pneumoniae M, A, G. This is done at intervals of 2-4 weeks.

A single measurement of antibody titers does not provide a 100% diagnostic result. In adults, the increase in IgM levels is insignificant. IgG levels often remain normal. Only an increase in antibody titer over time is an indicator of the presence of mycoplasma.

The earliest antibodies are specific immunoglobulins M. They appear after the first week of illness and indicate the development of an acute process.

If only IgG antibodies to mycoplasma pneumonia are detected, this indicates a past infection. At the beginning of the acute phase of the disease, this phenomenon is absent.

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