Chlamydophila pneumonia

Chlamydophila pneumonia

C. pneumoniae is the third common cause of pneumonia following Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae. It is an important cause of respiratory disease in older children and adults worldwide. C. pneumoniae causes mostly asymptomatic infections. Pharyngitis, sinusitis, bronchitis, and pneumonia are the common manifestations of symptomatic cases in severe respiratory tract infection.

C. pneumoniae is also a strict human pathogen and does nothave any animal reservoir. Infection is transmitted by respira-tory secretions from person to person without any avian or animal host. Approximately, 2–3 lakh cases of C. pneumoniae occur every year, and most of these cases occur in adults.

Diagnosis of infection is made by demonstration of C.pneumoniae antigen in specimens by enzyme immunoassay orDFA test. Diagnosis by culture is not done as C. pneumoniae grows poorly in cell cultures. Serodiagnosis is carried out by using CFT, ELISA, or MIF. Antibodies have been demonstrated in sera of more than 50% of people. PCR is also used to detect bacterial genome in the specimen.

Tetracycline, doxycycline, erythromycin, and azithromy-cin are given for 10–14 days for treatment of C. pneumoniae infection. Control of C. pneumoniae infection is difficult.