[Chemoluminescence of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in neonates with bacterial infections (author's transl)].

Chemoluminescence (CL) measurement of phagocytozing polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) is used to determine the activity of intracellular O2-dependent bactericidal capacity. PMN in the cordblood of healthy neonates compared to those of healthy adults is significantly decreased but kinectically normal. Phagocytozing PMN of infected neonates produce CL in a distinctly lower degree than those from the cordblood of healthy neonates. This pronounced depression of CL is a temporary event during bacterial infections, the CL reaction is also retarded. On the contrary phagocytozing PMN of older children and adults show an increase of CL production during bacterial infections. The described pattern of the oxidative metabolism reacting to bacterial infections on the neonatal period shows a reduced bactericidal capacity of these cells due to bacterial infections. Probably this pattern is one cause of increased letality and morbidity observed in bacterial infections of the newborn.