Circulating Interferon-like Viral Inhibitor in Patients with Meningitis Due toHaemophilus influenzae

Abstract

IT has been reported that other materials than viruses may induce the formation of interferon.^{1 , 2} In particular, interferon-like viral inhibitors have been produced by gram-negative bacteria in chickens¹ and mice³ and by bacterial endotoxins in mice³ and in rabbits.⁴ These results in animals suggested to us the possibility that an interferon-like viral inhibitor would also develop in human patients with gram-negative bacteremia or with endotoxemia. The present report describes the demonstration of such an inhibitor in 2 patients with meningitis and bacteremia caused by Haemophilus influenzae. Materials and MethodsGeneralSerial blood samples were obtained by venipuncture, and serums were . . .