Diagnosis of pneumococcal pneumonia by detection of antigen in saliva.

Abstract

A sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used for the detection of pneumococcal C polysaccharide in saliva samples from patients with radiologically verified pneumonia. In 16 of 29 patients (55%) with pneumococcal pneumonia, as verified by conventional culture methods, the antigen was present in saliva specimens. The test was negative in 35 of 36 patients (97%) with non-pneumococcal pneumonia and in all saliva samples from a control group, consisting of 25 patients with no signs of respiratory disease. It is concluded that the detection of pneumococcal C polysaccharide in saliva offers a valuable complement to conventional diagnostic methods for pneumococcal pneumonia.

• Authors: A Krook, H Fredlund, H Holmberg
• Journal: European journal of clinical microbiology (Eur J Clin Microbiol) Vol. 5 Issue 6 Pg. 639-42 (Dec 1986) ISSN: 0722-2211 [Print] Germany
• PMID: 3803376 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antigens, Bacterial
• Polysaccharides, Bacterial
• polysaccharide C-substance (Streptococcus)

Topics

• Antigens, Bacterial (analysis)
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
• Humans
• Pneumonia, Pneumococcal (diagnosis)
• Polysaccharides, Bacterial (analysis)
• Predictive Value of Tests
• Saliva (immunology, microbiology)
• Streptococcus pneumoniae (immunology)