Chlamydia pneumoniae in Community-Acquired Pneumonia
ANAN WATTANATHUM, M.D.*, PETCHARA BOONYONGSUNCHAI, M.D.*,
APIRAK PALWATWICHAI, M.D.*• NUKOOL LIMPAIROJN, B.Sc.**,
PENPRAPA CHANBANCHERD, M.Sc.**, NONGLAK CHANTHADISAI, M.D.*
Affiliation : *Pulmonary Division, Department of Medicine, Phramongkutklao Hospital,
**Clinical Pathology Division, Army Institute of Pathology, Phramongkutklao Medical Center, Bangkok I 0400, Thailand.
AbstractChlamydia pneumoniae has been established recently as an important human respiratory
pathogen. The aim of this study was to define the prevalence of C. pneumoniae in community
acquired pneumonia. We prospectively investigated adult patients who were treated as
inpatients and outpatients. Acute and convalescent serum samples were obtained from each
patient. Serological diagnosis of C. pneumoniae infection was determined by enzyme-linked
immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Eighty paired sera were tested for C. pneumoniae- specific
IgM, IgG and IgA. Twenty-one patients (26.2%) had serological results compatible with acute C.
pneumoniae infection. Eighteen (85.7%) of these infected patients were C. pneumoniae-specific
IgM positive, three had a seroconversion of IgA and two had a four-fold or greater increase
in C. pneumoniae-specific IgG antibody titer. The most common clinical manifestations of
community-acquired pneumonia due to C. pneumoniae were fever ( 100% ), cough (1 00% ),
chest pain (47.6%) and shortness of breath (42.9%). Physical examination revealed crackle in
85.7 per cent of the cases. These findings suggest that C. pneumoniae is a common cause of
community-acquired pneumonia in Thailand.
Keywords : Community-Acquired Pneumonia, Chlamydia Pneumoniae
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