Detection of Chlamydophila Pneumoniae Antigens in Patients with Chronic Cough

The aim of this study was to analyze the rate of Chlamydophila pneumoniae infection in adults with symptoms of chronic cough. The study was conducted in 83 hospitalized patients aged 18-67 suffering of chronic cough. The control group consisted of 20 healthy age-matched subjects without any respiratory symptoms. Bacteriological tests on the presence of Chlamydophila pneumoniae antigen were performed in throat swabs by indirect immunofluorescence technique using monoclonal antibodies labeled with fluorescein isothiocyanate. The rate of Chlamydophila infected patients was examined in relation to age and gender. The Chlamydophila pneumoniae antigen was detected in 15 (18 %) out of the 83 patients; about equally in both genders. Furthermore, we found that the patients aged 28-37 constituted the age group that most frequently tested positive for Chlamydophila pneumoniae. Unraveling the presence of Chlamydia infection in chronic cough patients enables to introduce a timely implementation of effective therapy and thus can prevent distant complications.