Abstract
Polyribose phosphate (PRP) antigen from H. influenzae, type b, is available for clinical trials for prevention of serious infections, such as septicemia and meningitis. It is therefore critical to document bacteriological and serological events in natural infections. 20 normal children were followed from birth through 5 years with periodic clinical examinations, nasopharyngeal cultures for H. influenzae and serum samples. H. influenzae strains were isolated from all at some time during the study; while 8 had type b, usually associated with clinical illness. One child had meningitis at 40 months; bacterial inhibitory substance (BIS) was present only during and immediately after the acute illness. Serum from 5 other patients had BIS within 3–4 weeks; in 2, BIS was temporary while in 3 it persisted until age 5. 11 other children had temporary BIS, 7 associated with nontype b strains and 4 without any relationship to isolations of H. influenzae. 18/20 of the children had BIS at some time, but it persisted until age 5. 11 other children had temporary BIS, 7 associated with nontype b strains and 4 without any relationship to isolations of H. influenzae. 18/20 of the children had BIS at some time, but it persisted until age 5 in 7/20.
Cord blood serum from 6/20 showed BIS which was lost by age 2 years in all but 2 patients.
The inhibitory effect was entirely removed form serum by adsorption with heavily encapsulated bacterial cells and partially removed by adsorption with PRP.
An increase in opsonizing antibody to type b was noted also in association with H. influenzae strains.
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Sell, S., Johnston, R. & Karzon, D. Studies of children with natural infections with H. influenzae antibacterial serological test vs type B. Pediatr Res 5, 401–402 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197108000-00127
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197108000-00127