Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dzt6s Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-19T09:05:34.110Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Immunoglobulin- and complement-coated bacteria in pus from peritonsillar abscesses

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 June 2007

Markus Lilja ,
Simo Räisänen  and
Lars-Eric Stenfors
Markus Lilja
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway
Simo Räisänen
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Laboratory, Central Hospital of Keski-Pohjanmaa, Kokkola, Finland.
Lars-Eric Stenfors*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway
*
Address for correspondence: Lars-Eric Stenfors, M.D., Department of Otolaryngology, University of Tromsø, N-9038 Tromsø, Norway.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Fifty-five samples of pus were collected from 51 acute, non-perforated, two spontaneously ruptured and two recurrent peritonsillar abscesses (35 males and 18 females; median age 18 years) and analysed regarding (i) aerobic and anaerobic bacteria (standard culturing), (ii) morphology of bacteria and inflammatory cells (direct microscopy of acridine orange-stained material), and (iii) the percentage of bacteria coated with immunoglobulins IgG, secretory IgA (SIgA) andIgM and complement cleavage product C3b (immunofluorescence assay). Seventy-one per cent of the abscesses harboured a mixed bacterial flora of various aerobes and anaerobes. In none of the cases with a single bacterial species (27 per cent) could immunoglobulin- or complement-coated bacteria be found. In abscesses with a mixed flora, 18 per cent harboured IgG-coated, 15 per cent SIgA-coated, five per cent IgM-coated and five per cent C3b-coated bacteria, respectively. All pus samples contained inflammatory cells in abundance but they were mostly deformed and only occasionally could intracellular bacteria be recognized. Insufficient immunoglobulin-coating of bacteria might be an important aetiopathogenic factor in the development of a peritonsillar abscess. Bactericide in the abscesses is accomplished chiefly by protective mechanisms not dependent on antigen recognition by antibodies.

Keywords

Peritonsillar abscessSuppurationBacteriologyFluoroimmunoassay
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 112 , Issue 7 , July 1998 , pp. 634 - 638
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 1998

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Brandtzaeg, P. (1995) Immunocompetent cells ofthe upper airway: functions in normal and diseased mucosa. European Archives of Otorhinolaryngology 252(Suppl 1): 8–21.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brook, I., Frazier, E. H., Thompson, D. H. (1991) Aerobic and anaerobic microbiology of peritonsillar abscess. Laryngoscope 3: 289–291.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hammerschmidt, S., Talay, S. R., Brandtzaeg, P., Chhatwal, S. (1997) SpsA, a novel pneumococcal surface protein with specific binding to secretory immunoglobulin A and secretory component. Molecular Microbiology 25(6): 1113–1124.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jokipii, A. M., Jokipii, L., Sipilä, P., Jokinen, K. (1988) Semiquantitative culture results and pathogenic significance of obligate anaerobes on peritonsillar abscesses. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 2: 957–961.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jousimies-Somer, H., Savolainen, S., Mäkitie, A., Ylikoski, J. (1993) Bacteriologic findings in peritonsillar abscesses in young adults. Clinical Infectious Diseases 16(Suppl 4): 292–298.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Laboratory outline for training course in principles and bacterial applications of fluorescent antibodies techniques. US Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Public Health Services. Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Ga, USA. 1972.Google Scholar
Lilja, M., Räisänen, S., Stenfors, L. E. (1997) Direct microscopy of effusions obtained from peritonsillar abscesses as a complement to bacterial culturing. Journal of Laryngology and Otology 111: 392–395.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mitchelmore, I. J., Prior, A. J., Montgomery, P. Q., Tabaqchali, S. (1995) Microbial features and pathogenesis of peritonsillar abscesses. European Journal of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases 14(10): 870–877.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Passy, V. (1994) Pathogenesis of peritonsillarabscess. Laryngoscope 104: 185–190.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rook, G. (1993) Immunity to viruses, bacteria and fungi. In: Immunology, 3rd Edition, (Roitt, I., Brostroff, J., Male, D., Eds.), Mosby, London, England, pp 15.8–15.18.Google Scholar
Stenfors, L.-E., Räisänen, S. (1988) Quantification of bacteria in middle ear effusions. Acta Otolaryngologica 108: 122–125.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stenfors, L.-E., Räisänen, S. (1992) Opsonization of middle ear bacteria during chronic suppurative and secretory otitis media. Acta Otolaryngologica 112: 96–101.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Stenfors, L.-E., Räisänen, S. (1996) Immunoglobulin-coated bacteria on the tonsillar surfaces during infectious mononucleosis. Journal of Laryngology and Otology 110: 339–342.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Volk, W. A., Benjamin, D. C., Kadner, R. J., Parsons, J. T. (1986) The gram-positive pyogenic cocci. In Essentials of Medical Microbiology, 3rd Edition, J. B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia, pp 359–381.Google Scholar
Walport, M. (1993) Complement. In Immunology, 3rd Edition, (Roitt, I., Brostroff, J.,Male, D., Eds.), Mosby, London, England, pp 12.1–12.16.Google Scholar