Immunization with Leucocidin Toxoid Against Staphylococcal Infection

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Abstract
In 560 women the antileucocidin titer was determined in the 35th week of pregnancy and again in the cord blood at confinement. The earlier observation that mastitis does not occur in women with titers above 4 AU was confirmed. Of 378 women with a low titer ( < 4 AU) in the 35th week of pregnancy 168 were immunized with 5 L+-units of a purified leucocidin toxoid in the 37th week. The injection caused minor complaints in only a few women. A significant rise in antileucocidin was observed in 100 cases (60%) against 11 (5%) in the control group. In 59 cases (35%) a protective titer of over 8 AU was observed, against 10 cases (5%) in the control group. There were 6 cases of mastitis in the control group against 2 in the immunized group. This result is not statistically significant. The possible value of immunization with leucocidin toxoid in other staphylococcal infections was briefly discussed.