ORIGINAL ARTICLE

A rapid ELISA for the diagnosis of intravascular catheter related sepsis caused by coagulase negative staphylococci

T Worthington¹, P A Lambert², A Traube¹, T S J Elliott¹

¹ Department of Clinical Microbiology, University Hospital, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TH, UK
² Department of Pharmaceutical and Biological Sciences, Aston University, Aston Triangle, Birmingham, UK

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Professor T S J Elliot, Department of Clinical Microbiology, University Hospital Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TH, UK;
tom.elliott{at}university-b.wmids.nhs.uk

Aim: To develop and evaluate a rapid enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the diagnosis of intravascular catheter related sepsis caused by coagulase negative staphylococci.

Methods: Forty patients with a clinical and microbiological diagnosis of intravascular catheter related sepsis and positive blood cultures, caused by coagulase negative staphylococci, and 40 control patients requiring a central venous catheter as part of their clinical management were recruited into the study. Serum IgG responses to a previously undetected exocellular antigen produced by coagulase negative staphylococci, termed lipid S, were determined in the patient groups by a rapid ELISA.

Results: There was a significant difference (p = < 0.0001) in serum IgG to lipid S between patients with catheter related sepsis and controls. The mean antibody titre in patients with sepsis caused by coagulase negative staphylococci was 10 429 (range, no detectable serum IgG antibody to 99 939), whereas serum IgG was not detected in the control group of patients.

Conclusions: The rapid ELISA offers a simple, economical, and rapid diagnostic test for suspected intravascular catheter related sepsis caused by coagulase negative staphylococci, which can be difficult to diagnose clinically. This may facilitate treatment with appropriate antimicrobials and may help prevent the unnecessary removal of intravascular catheters.

Keywords: enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; coagulase negative staphylococci; catheter infections

Abbreviations: AOLC, acridine orange leucocyte cytospin; CRS, catheter related sepsis; CVC, central venous catheter; EIU, enzyme immunoassay units; ELISA, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; LTA, lipoteichoic acid

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This article has been cited by other articles:

• Haase, K. K., McCracken, K. A., Akins, R. L. (2005). Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infections in the Intensive Care Unit Population. Journal of Pharmacy Practice 18: 42-52 [Abstract]