A comparison of culture and PCR methods for identifying Moraxella catarrhalis in patients with respiratory diseases

Moraxella catarrhalis is considered as one of the most significant pathogens of the respiratory tract. This research aimed to isolate and identify M. catarrhalis in respiratory diseases patients from northern part of Iran using culture and PCR techniques. In this study, 280 samples including throat swab of the patients with pharyngitis (n=92), sinus secretions of the patients with sinusitis (N=85), ear secretions of patients with otitis media (n=43) and pulmonary secretions of the patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit (n=60) were collected. Culture technique and phenotyping tests were used to isolate and identify the bacterium. PCR technique was also used for its identification by usage of the specific primers. Of a total of 280 samples, 27 samples (9.64%), and 87 samples (31.07%), were reported to be positive in terms of presence of M. catarrhalis using culture and PCR techniques, respectively. The results obtained by this study show that M. catarrhalis is present in the human societies and hospital environments. Therefore, rapid identification and tracking of its strains can play a significant role in prevention from their development.