Chlamydia pneumoniae



Chlamydia pneumoniae is a species of intracellular bacterium of the genus Chlamydia and the family Chlamydiaceae. This division is traditional and still widely used, but Chlamydia pneumoniae, together with Chlamydia psittaci, has been reclassified into the genus Chlamydophila. It is an intracellular energy parasite, because chlamydia do not have their own ATP production system and use ATP host cells. Chlamydia pneumoniae is an exclusively human pathogen, of all the types of chlamydia being the most widespread in the population.

Inclusion
Chlamydia pneumoniae was classified as a separate species when it was found to have less than 10% DNA homology with the other two chlamydia species. Formerly known as TWAR strain Chlamydia trachomatis. In the microscope, we can recognize it by pear-shaped inclusions with a wide periplasmic space.

The causative agent of the disease
Infections caused by Chlamydia pneumoniae are very rare in children aged 1-5 years. In adults, the cause is about 5% of primary sinusitis, 4 % of bronchitis, 10 % of nosocomial pneumonias and upper respiratory tract inflammation. Its action probably also applies to endocarditis and myocarditis. Infectious or reactive arthritis can be a complication of the infection. Like Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydia psittaci, Legionella pneumophilla and Coxiella burnetii, Chlamydia pneumoniae is a causative agent of atypical pneumonias.

Diagnostics
Chlamydia pneumoniae infection does not produce enough antibodies, so recurrent infections are possible. However, the immune response of the host is used in serological diagnosis. The antigen with which KFR reacts is gender specific, so it is not possible to identify the species. This can be determined on the basis of specific antibodies against the elementary bodies of Chlamydia pneumoniae, which we demonstrate by a microimmunofluorescence reaction, namely IgM and IgG.

Therapy
Infections caused by this pathogen are routinely treated with antibiotics. Doxycycline or azithromycin are currently the drugs of choice for adults, and clarithromycin or azithromycin for children. Recently, however, research has shown that antibiotics often do not have the right effects, do not improve health or speed up recovery. Therefore, some experts in immunocompetent individuals without a serious underlying non-infectious disease only recommend the administration of symptomatic medications, adequate fluid intake, and bed rest.

Related sources

 * Chlamydia
 * Chlamydia trachomatis
 * Atypical pneumonia
 * Pneumonia