[Serological diagnosis of Staphylococcus aureus infections using anti-A beta teichoic acid antibodies assay (author's transl)].

225 control subjects, 12 hospitalized Staphylococcus free (34 sera) and 16 S. aureus infected patients (79 sera) were tested for anti-A beta teichoic acid antibodies, using counter-immunoelectrophoresis. Anti-alpha and gamma haemolysins antibodies were dosed in parallel in 164 sera. Less than 5 per cent of control sera (3,11 per cent) have an antibody tire higher than 1/8: this tire is therefore selected as threshold level of positivity. Ten of the 12 hospitalized patients without staphylococcal infections are below this level. 31,6 per cent of staphylococcus infected patients have higher serum titers; only 3,7 per cent have no antibodies. In the others, a significant rise in titres is observed. There is no correlation between anti-alpha and gamma staphylolysin and anti-teichoic acid antibodies titres. The method suggested, both easy and rapid, could be used in association with anti-staphylolysin dosage for serological diagnosis of staphylococcal infections.