Diagnosis of vascular graft infections with antibodies against staphylococcal slime antigens.
Late-onset infections of synthetic vascular grafts (LO-SVGIs) are generally caused by staphylococci that produce a slime polysaccharide and grow as a biofilm on the graft surface. We developed an ELISA to detect serum antibodies against staphylococcal slime polysaccharide antigens (SSPA). Patients with an ongoing staphylococcal LO-SVGI had greater titres of IgM antibodies against SSPA than did patients in other groups. Antibody titres of 0.40 ELISA units (EU) or more, or 0.35 EU or more detected 97% and 100% of staphylococcal LO-SVGIs, respectively, 0% and 2% titre/unit false-positive results. Our findings suggest that such an ELISA represents a sensitive, specific, and non-invasive diagnostic test for staphylococcal LO-SVGIs.
Selan
Laura
L
Dipartimento di Scienze di Sanità Pubblica, Università di Roma La Sapienza, Roma, Italy.
Passariello
Claudio
C
Rizzo
Luigi
L
Varesi
Paola
P
Speziale
Francesco
F
Renzini
Giulio
G
Thaller
Maria Cristina
MC
Fiorani
Paolo
P
Rossolini
Gian Maria
GM
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis / Q000382:microbiology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods*; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000276:immunology; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000276:immunology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M