Diagnosis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae Infection in Autopsy and Open-Lung Biopsy Tissues by Nested PCR

A nested PCR specific for the Mycoplasma pneumoniae P1 gene was used to diagnose mycoplasma infection in two cohort patients with severe pneumonia within 24 h of tissue receipt. A postmortem diagnosis of M. pneumoniae infection was obtained for the first patient, who died without the collection of appropriate paired samples for serodiagnosis. An open-lung biopsy obtained from the second patient allowed a quick, definitive diagnosis and proper selection of therapy.