Chlamydia pneumoniae is a pathogenic bacterium for humans and usually carries asymptomatic and mild infections, but can cause more severe diseases such as bronchitis and pneumonia. This bacterium can also be a trigger for asthma.
Chlamydia pneumoniae is transmitted by air.
What are the symptoms?
The most common symptoms of the infection are:
- fever
- pharyngitis
- otalgia
- cough
- weakness
In severe cases, the infection can cause bronchitis and pneumonia.
How does the contagion occur?
Transmission takes place by direct contagion between people by air, in particular, it is transmitted via droplets of saliva containing the bacteria, released with:
- cough,
- sneezing.
How it is diagnosed: IgG, IgM, IgA antibody test by venous sampling
Anti-Chlamydia IgM antibodies of the infection are only detectable after 2–4 weeks and then disappear within 2–6 months.
The IgG and IgA antibodies are detected within 6–8 weeks and disappear rapidly from the bloodstream.
In case of reactivation of the infection, the IgG and IgA antibodies are detectable as early as 1–2 weeks.
IgM antibodies, IgG and IgA values higher than the reference value indicate that the patient may be suffering from the pathology.
Chlamydia pneumoniae: molecular test
It is possible to make a rapid diagnosis of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection by means of molecular swab.
A molecular swab makes it possible to identify DNA sequences specific to the bacterium
starting from a biological sample taken via a simple pharyngeal swab.
The test based on bacterial DNA testing allows a rapid and precise diagnosis leading to the choice of an appropriate treatment.
Dr Maria Luisa Casella
