Usefulness of pneumococcal antigen detection in pleural fluid samples by immunochromatographic assay for diagnosis of pneumococcal pneumonia

• Published in: Clinical microbiology and infection Vol. 12; no. 7; pp. 682 - 684
• Main Authors: Andreo, F., Domínguez, J., Ruiz-Manzano, J., Prat, C., Blanco, S., Lores, L., Sánchez, M.D., Latorre, I., Giménez, M., Ausina, V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2006; Blackwell Publishing Ltd; Blackwell
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antigen detection; Antigens, Bacterial - analysis; Antigens, Bacterial - urine; Bacterial diseases; Biological and medical sciences; Female; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Immunoassay - methods; immunochromatographic test; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Pleural Effusion - immunology; Pleural Effusion - microbiology; pleural fluid; pneumococcal pneumonia; Pneumonia, Pneumococcal - diagnosis; Pneumonia, Pneumococcal - microbiology; Sensitivity and Specificity; Staphylococcal infections, streptococcal infections, pneumococcal infections; Streptococcus pneumoniae; Streptococcus pneumoniae - immunology; Streptococcus pneumoniae - isolation & purification; Antigen detection; immunochromatographic test; pneumococcal pneumonia; pleural fluid; Streptococcus pneumoniae; Lung disease; Pneumonia; Respiratory disease; Immunoaffinity chromatography; Immunological method; Infection; Antigen; Streptococcaceae; Streptococcal infection; Bacteriosis; Bacteria; Micrococcales; Diagnosis; Pleural fluid; Pneumococcal infection
• ISSN: 1198-743X; 1469-0691
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-0691.2006.01484.x

This study investigated the utility of an immunochromatographic test (ICT) for the detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae antigens in pleural fluid. Antigen was detected in 15 of 19 (79%) patients with pneumococcal pneumonia. The ICT was always negative in patients with non-pneumococcal pneumonia, but was positive in three cases with a non-infectious aetiology. In patients with pneumonia for which no pathogen was identified, antigen was detected in one of 24 pleural fluids tested. The ICT can be a valuable tool for the management of pneumonia because it can detect pneumococcal antigen in pleural effusion samples.