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Comparison of polymerase chain reaction assay with culture for detection of genital mycoplasmas in perinatal infections

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Abstract

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique was compared with culture for the detection ofUreaplasma urealyticum, Mycoplasma hominis, andMycoplasma genitalium in clinical samples (vaginal secretions, throat and endotracheal secretions, and skin swabs) obtained from 47 high-risk pregnant women peripartum and eight newborn infants. Detection using PCR with homologous primers was highly specific, as a product with the expected length was consistently amplified with homologous but not with heterologous species. The limit of detection of the PCR assay was 10 color-changing units (CCU) ofMycoplasma strains. The PCR technique facilitated detection ofUreaplasma urealyticum DNA in 31 of 55 patients studied, ofMycoplasma hominis in seven samples, and ofMycoplasma genitalium in two samples. Four PCR-positive patients yielded culture-negative results. In one case a culture-positive sample was negative by PCR. The results show that PCR is a valuable tool for rapid detection of genital mycoplasmas in clinical samples. It is fast, sensitive, specific, and easy to perform, requiring minimal preparation of the clinical sample.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Genetics Group, Biotechnology Research Institute, 6100 Royalmount Avenue, H4P 2R2, Montreal, Québec, Canada

    N. Luki & R. Brousseau

  2. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Sainte-Justine Hospital, 3175 Côte Sainte-Catherine, H3T 1C5, Montreal, Québec, Canada

    N. Luki, P. Lebel & R. Brousseau

  3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sainte-Justine Hospital, 3175 Côte Sainte-Catherine, H3T 1C5, Montreal, Québec, Canada

    M. Boucher

  4. Department of Neonatology, Sainte-Justine Hospital, 3175 Côte Sainte-Catherine, H3T 1C5, Montreal, Québec, Canada

    B. Doray

  5. Department of Pediatrics, Sainte-Justine Hospital, 3175 Côte Sainte-Catherine, H3T 1C5, Montreal, Québec, Canada

    J. Turgeon

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  1. N. Luki
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Luki, N., Lebel, P., Boucher, M. et al. Comparison of polymerase chain reaction assay with culture for detection of genital mycoplasmas in perinatal infections. Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 17, 255–263 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01699982

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