Mycoplasma pneumonia infection in Cancer Patients at a Regional Cancer Center, South India

Abstract

Purpose: Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M.pneumoniae) forms one of the major causes of the community acquired respiratory infections in paediatric and adult populations. A prospective study was done to evaluate the frequency of M.pneumoniae infections in cancer patients at a regional cancer hospital in South India. Materials and Methods: Blood was sampled from 65 adult patients with confirmed solid and haematological malignancies during febrile episodes. Serological estimation for IgM antibodies to M. pneumoniae was done using IgM enzyme – linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit (EuroImmun, Germany). Thirty age and sex matched normal healthy adult subjects served as control. Results: The breakup of the patients was as follows: Of the 65 patients 51(78.46%) were males and 14 were females (21.53%). Of the total number studied 51(78.46%) had solid tumor while 14 (21.53%) patients had haematological malignancy. Patient who received chemotherapy alone were 18 (27.69%) radiotherapy 14 (21.53%);surgery 10(15.38%); chemotherapy and radiotherapy16(24.61%); chemotherapy and surgery 3(4.61%); radiotherapy and surgery 3 (4.61%); chemotherapy and radiotherapy and surgery1(1.53%). Only one female patient of squamous cell carcinoma post cricoid had IgM antibodies to M. pneumoniae. Two of the 30 control sera were also positive for IgM antibodies to M. Pneumonia Conclusion: From our study we inferred that the frequency of M.pneumoniae infections amongst cancer patients at our centre is infrequent and low. However, detection of IgM antibodies by serological assay is not the only ideal test to know the true frequency of M.pneumoniae infection.The actual frequency could be assessed by simultaneous detection of M.pneumoniae DNA in the sputa along with detection of IgM during febrile episodes .