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Immunoglobulin- and complement-coated bacteria in pus from peritonsillar abscesses
M Lilja1, S Räisänen, L E Stenfors
1Department of Otolaryngology, University of Tromsø, Norway.
The Journal of Laryngology and Otology
|October 17, 1998
Summary
Insufficient immunoglobulin coating on bacteria may contribute to peritonsillar abscess development. Mixed bacterial infections show some coated bacteria, but overall, immune responses in abscesses may not rely on antibody recognition.
Area of Science:
- Otorhinolaryngology
- Immunology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Peritonsillar abscesses (PTAs) are common complications of tonsillitis.
- The role of bacterial-host immune interactions in PTA pathogenesis is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the bacterial flora and host immune response in peritonsillar abscesses.
- To determine the association between bacterial coating with immunoglobulins and complement and PTA development.
Main Methods:
- Pus samples from 51 peritonsillar abscesses were analyzed for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria using standard culturing.
- Bacterial morphology and inflammatory cells were examined via direct microscopy.
- Immunoglobulin (IgG, IgA, IgM) and complement (C3b) coating of bacteria were assessed using immunofluorescence assays.
Main Results:
- Mixed bacterial flora was present in 71% of abscesses; single species in 27%.
- Bacteria coated with IgG, SIgA, IgM, or C3b were found in 18%, 15%, 5%, and 5% of mixed flora abscesses, respectively.
- No coated bacteria were detected in single-species infections. Inflammatory cells were abundant but often deformed, with rare intracellular bacteria.
Conclusions:
- Insufficient immunoglobulin coating of bacteria may be a key factor in peritonsillar abscess pathogenesis.
- Bactericidal mechanisms in peritonsillar abscesses appear to be largely independent of antibody-mediated antigen recognition.