Teichoic acid antibody test: its use in patients with coagulase-positive staphylococcal bacteremia.

Abstract

We have studied the occurrence and specificity of teichoic acid antibodies (TAAs), measured by double diffusion in agar, in 114 patients with bacteremia of whom 47 had coagulase-positive staphylococcal bacteremia. A total of 30% of the 47 patients with coagulase-positive staphylococcal bacteremia had a TAA titer of 1:8 or more, and an additional 30% had a titer of 1:2 or 1:4. High TAA titers were most often connected with coagulase-positive staphylococcal endocarditis, osteomyelitis, and deep wound infections. None of the six coagulase-negative patients with staphylococcal bacteremia nor any of the 92 controls had titers exceeding 1:1. A total of 10% of the other patients with bacteremia showed positive results on the TAA test at low titer levels. Compared to the antistaphylolysin value, the TAA test was about equally specific but more sensitive.

• Authors: U M Larinkari, M V Valtonen, M Sarvas, V V Valtonen
• Journal: Archives of internal medicine (Arch Intern Med) Vol. 137 Issue 11 Pg. 1522-5 (Nov 1977) ISSN: 0003-9926 [Print] United States
• PMID: 411439 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Bacterial
• Teichoic Acids

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Antibodies, Bacterial (analysis)
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Endocarditis, Bacterial (diagnosis)
• Female
• Humans
• Immunodiffusion
• Infant
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Sepsis (complications, diagnosis)
• Staphylococcal Infections (complications, diagnosis)
• Teichoic Acids