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

To determine the sensitivity and specificity of a novel antibody test for the diagnosis of intravascular catheter-related infections due to coagulase-negative staphylococci.

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. An ELISA serological test based on a novel short-chain lipoteichoic acid antigen isolated from coagulase-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.

There was a significant increase in the antibody levels (IgG and IgM) to the short-chain lipoteichoic acid in patients with CVC-associated staphylococcal sepsis as compared to the control patients.

This new serological method may offer a useful diagnostic test for intravascular catheter infections caused by staphylococci.