Detection time for blood culture isolates using a biphasic medium.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to I G Julander.
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A highly purified teichoic acid preparation was used in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to measure the specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM response in staphylococcal disease. Antibody determination in a normal population, showing a difference of up to 20-fold in the mean IgG titers between the youngest children and adults, was used to establish age-correlated upper normal values. IgM antibodies were found to be of little diagnostic value since their response was often low or absent. Increased IgG titers were found in 24 of 27 (89%) patients with endocarditis, in 11 of 14 (79%) with complicated septicemia, and in 10 of 20 (50%) with uncomplicated septicemia with serum samples drawn between days 7 and 30 of disease. With paired samples, the numbers of patients with increased IgG titers were 17 of 17, 3 of 4, and 6 of 7, respectively, in the same patient groups. Increased IgG titers were less often demonstrated in patients with chronic osteomyelitis (7 of 22). The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for teichoic acid antibodies was found to be a sensitive and specific method for diagnosing staphylococcal endocarditis and septicemia. For optimal results, both the substantial age-correlated variation in normal titers and the importance of adequately spaced samples should be considered.
An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used with purified alpha-toxin and teichoic acid preparations to measure the IgG and IgM response in Staphylococcus aureus infections. After determining antibodies in a normal population, cut-off levels were set for all age groups. ELISA with alpha-toxin was more sensitive than the antistaphylolysin neutralization test (ASTA). Determining IgM antibodies with the two antigens was found to be of limited diagnostic value. Positive IgG titers against alpha-toxin were found in 21 of 27 patients (78%) with endocarditis, 11 of 14 (79%) with complicated septicemia, eight of 20 (40%) with uncomplicated septicemia and in 12 of 22 (54%) with chronic osteomyelitis. The IgG responses to teichoic acid and alpha-toxin were somewhat different when measured by ELISA, and the parallel performance of the two assays resulted in improved serological diagnostics. The number of positive patients increased to 89%, 86%, 65% and 64%, respectively, in the four groups with a diagnostic specificity of 93%. In septicemic staphylococcal infections, the diagnosis could be established in all patients (28 of 28) with adequately spaced paired samples.