title: Counterimmunoelectrophoresis of sputum and blood for the diagnosis of chest infections caused by pneumococci or Haemophilus influenzae.
abstract: In 107 patients with lower respiratory tract infections, counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE) of blood and sputum, bacterial cultures of blood, sputum and nasopharyngeal secretion, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for antibody determination were performed, with special reference to pneumococci and Haemophilus influenzae. For pneumococci CIE of sputum was superior to culture especially in antibiotic-treated patients. The clinical significance of a positive CIE of sputum was supported by close correlation to significant antibody increase. The usefulness of CIE regarding H. influenzae was more difficult to evaluate.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D001991:Bronchitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D003378:Counterimmunoelectrophoresis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006192:Haemophilus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D006193:Haemophilus influenzae / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000382:microbiology; D011018:Pneumonia, Pneumococcal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D013183:Sputum / Q000276:immunology*; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial