A novel serological test for the diagnosis of central venous catheter-associated sepsis

Objectives: To determine the sensitivity and specificity of a novel antibody test for the diagnosis of intravascular catheter-related infections due to coagulase-negative staphylococci. Methods: Sixty-seven patients diagnosed as having central venous catheter (CVC)-associated sepsis based on strict clinical criteria, including positive blood cultures, were compared to 67 patients with a CVC in situ who exhibited no evidence of sepsis, fin ELISA serological test based on a novel short-chain Lipoteichoic acid antigen isolated from congulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) was used to determine the patient's serological response (IgG and IgM) to CVC sepsis caused by CNS, The specificity and sensitivity of the test was determined. Results: There was a significant increase in the antibody levels (IgG and IgM) to the short-chain lipeteichoic acid in patients with CVC-associated staphylococcal sepsis as compared to the control patients, Conclusions: This nerv serological method may. offer a useful diagnostic test for intravascular catheter infections caused by staphylococci. (C) 2000 The British Infection Society.