[Oxidative metabolism of phagocytes: physicochemical events and clinical relevance (author's transl)].

The microbicidal activity of phagocytes is primarily dependent upon two intracellular processes: degranulation and respiratory burst. The latter one is associated with a partial reduction of molecular oxygen leading to the production of highly reactive oxydizing agents with microbicidal activity. Since an efficiant intracellular antimicrobial function of phagocytes is mainly based on the intracellular process of fusion of lysosomes with the phagocytic vesicles and the production of highly reactive oxygen radicales, disturbances of both these events will cause increased susceptibility against microorganisms and in most of the cases severe infections.