Measurement of antibody responses to pneumolysin--a promising method for the presumptive aetiological diagnosis of pneumococcal pneumonia.

摘要: An enzymeimmunoassay (EIA) for measuring antibodies to pneumococcal pneumolysin has been developed. The method was used study the possible aetiology of pneumonia in 159 mostly elderly patients admitted hospital because a positive chest X-ray. results obtained with assay were compared those by other diagnostic methods, namely blood culture, detection antigen urine and demonstration an antibody response C-polysaccharide capsular polysaccharides. Antibody found 32 39 (82%) aetiologically diagnosed presumptively methods. In addition, EIA 31 without evidence clinical laboratory investigations these supported presumption bacterial infection. We conclude that we have developed is promising, sensitive presumptive aetiological diagnosis pneumonia. simple perform only one needed measurement IgG alone seems be enough diagnosis.