Absolute identification of muramic acid, at trace levels, in human septic synovial fluids in vivo and absence in aseptic fluids.
This is the first report of a study employing the state-of-the-art technique of gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for absolute identification of muramic acid (a marker for peptidoglycan) at trace levels in a human or animal body fluid or tissue. Daughter mass spectra of synovial fluid muramic acid peaks (> or = 30 ng/ml) were identical to those of pure muramic acid. Absolute chemical identification at this level represents a 1,000-fold increase in sensitivity over previous gas chromatography-mass spectrometry identifications. Muramic acid was positively identified in synovial fluids during infection and was eliminated over time but was absent from aseptic fluids.
Fox
A
A
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of South Carolina, Columbia, USA.
Fox
K
K
Christensson
B
B
Harrelson
D
D
Krahmer
M
M
D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009112:Muramic Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D013582:Synovial Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D013997:Time Factors
D009112:Muramic Acids