[Antibody-coated bacteria in the sputum from patients with pneumococcal pneumonia].
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.
Sala-Mateus
C
C
Puig de la Bellacasa
J
J
Torres
A
A
Jiménez de Anta
M T
MT
Hojman
L
L
Agustí
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011018:Pneumonia, Pneumococcal / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology*; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000276:immunology*
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial
Bacterias recubiertas de anticuerpos en el esputo de pacientes con neumonía neumocócica.