Commercially Available (ENDO-STAPH) Assay for Teichoic Acid Antibodies

Serological diagnosis of Staphylococcus aureus osteomyelitis

“…The serological response could be useful for identifying S. aureus as the etiological agent in acute osteomyelitis before blood culture results were known or in patients with negative cultures. Also, elevated staphylococcal antibodies in patients with S. aureus bacteremia would support a search for metastatic sites of infection in bone, since a 4to 6-week course of parenteral antibiotic therapy would be necessary in these individuals (7,15,17). High levels of staphylococcal antibodies, particularly to teichoic acid, in patients with chronic osteomyelitis support active infection with S. aureus.…”

“…However, teichoic acid antibodies may also result from chronic or extensive skin or soft-tissue infections (15). Thus, a positive result cannot be used to distinguish osteomyelitis from these other staphylococcal infections.…”

“…Serological tests for antibodies to several different S. aureus antigens have been used in diagnosing serious staphylococcal infections (2,6,7,11,12,(15)(16)(17). These tests may provide a specific etiological diagnosis before blood cultures are identified to be positive in bacteremic infections (2,6).…”

“…These tests may provide a specific etiological diagnosis before blood cultures are identified to be positive in bacteremic infections (2,6). Elevated levels of staphylococcal antibodies beyond the normal range also distinguish S. aureus bacteremia complicated by endocarditis or metastatic infection from uncomplicated bacteremia associated with infected intravascular devices, thus providing useful information in determining the duration of antibiotic therapy (7, 12, [15][16][17]. Detection of elevated levels of anti-staphylococcal antibodies supports a presumptive diagnosis of S. aureus infection in patients with negative cultures because of prior antibiotic therapy.…”