Antibody-coated bacteria in the sputum from patients with pneumococcal pneumonia
Sala-Mateus, C.; Puig de la Bellacasa, J.; Torres, A.; Jiménez de Anta, M.T.; Hojman, L.; Agustí, A.
Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiologia Clinica 7(1): 36-39
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0213-005X PMID: 2490640 Document Number: 339522
In the present study an immunofluorescence technique detecting antibody-coated bacteria was evaluated. It was applied to the sputum of seven patients with bacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia to assess its diagnostic usefulness. We conclude that it is a valid, quick and easy technique which permits to differentiate between bacteria contaminating the sputum from those involved in the infection. This gives, therefore, a new value to the study of sputum. In our series the duration of the disease had no influence on the results, and the three antigammaglobulins used (anti-IgG, anti-IgA and anti-IgM) yielded the same results in each sample. Thus, we feel that the local pulmonary immune response was secondary in type.