[Coagglutination test to localize a urinary infection]

A method has been developed for discovering of antibody covered bacteria in the urine by means of a coagglutination test with a protein A containing strain--St. aureus Cowan's I. The test is based on the ability of staphylococcal protein A to bind Fc-fragment of IgG. As a specificity control St. aureus Wood 46 was used. 38 patients with urinary infections were examined. As pyelonephritic criteria the following were considered: febrile episodes, lumber pains, polyuria, pollakiuria, leukocyturia, proteinuria, raised arterial pressure, anemia, diminished renal function or chronic renal failure, x-ray, ultrasound and isotopic-nephrographic changes. In the presence of antibody covered bacteria the test is positive--there is coagglutination only with st. aureus Cowan's I. If the bacteria are not antibody coated no coagglutination takes place. If there is coagglutination with both strains the reaction is considered non-specific. II samples gave non-specific reaction. In 75% of the pyelonephritic patients the test was positive. In 70% of the patients with urinary infections of the lower urinary tract, i.e. with bacteria without immunoglobulins, the test was negative. In 74.1% of the cases there is a correlation between the coagglutination test and the localization of the urinary infection by means of other clinical and paraclinical methods. It is suggested that the coagglutination test should be included in the examination of patients with urinary infections, the positive test indicates renal localization of the infection.