Evaluation of Pathogenesis and Diagnosis of Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Community-acquired Pneumonia (CAP)

The Role of Adaptive Immune Responses to Mycoplasma Pneumoniae in Pathogenesis and Diagnosis of Community-acquired Pneumonia (CAP) in Children: an Observational Single-center Study (myCAP Study)

To investigate the Mycoplasma pneumoniae-specific circulating antibody-secreting cell (ASC) response and Mycoplasma pneumoniae-specific interferon (INF)-γ-secreting T cell response, along with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and serology, in a cohort of children with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and controls.

Inclusion Criteria:

CAP cohort:

• Children of age 3 to 18 years;
• In- and outpatients;
• Clinically diagnosed community-acquired pneumonia (CAP);

Healthy control cohort:

- Healthy asymptomatic children of age 3 to 18 years undergoing an elective surgical procedure;

Family control cohort:

- Family members of index CAP patients.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Hospital-acquired pneumonia;
• Immunodeficiencies;
• Chronic lung disorders.