Assay of Teichoic Acid Antibodies and Antistaphylolysin in the Diagnosis of Staphylococcal Osteomyelitis

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Abstract
Teichoic acid antibodies (TAA), measured by gel diffusion, and antistaphylolysin (ASta) values were determined in 46 osteomyelitis patients and 200 healthy controls. A positive TAA titer (.gtoreq. 4) was seen in 4/16 patients with acute hematogenous osteomyelitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus and in 7/22 patients with chronic staphylococcal osteomyelitis; ASta was positive (.gtoreq. 2.0 IU/ml) in 9 patients in both groups, all except 2 exceedng 4.0 IU/ml. No positive TAAtiters or ASta values were seen in 8 patients with chronic nonstaphylococcal osteomyelitis. The rate of positive test results in 200 controls was 7% for TAA and 4% for ASta. Basing diagnosis on a positive value in either of the tests gave 21 positive results in 38 patients patients with staphylococal osteomyelitis; 18 by ASta alone and 11 by TAA alone. Both tests were positive at the same time in 3 patients with acute and in 5 patients with chronic staphylococcal osteomyelitis but never in controls.