Anti-Pseudomonas aeruginosa Activity of an Intravenous Human IgG Preparation in Burned Mice

Abstract

A commercially available human IgG chemically modified for i.v. infusion (IGIV) was tested in burned mice for activity against 8 strains of P. aeruginosa. An 8.7-9.6% full-thickness burn was made with a gas flame on the shaved backs of anesthetized mice. A suspension of P. aeruginosa in 0.5 ml saline was then injected s.c. in the burn site. Inocula included 7 ATCC reference strains representing the 7 Fisher-Devlin-Gnabasik immunotypes plus an additional strain of immunotype 1. IGIV immunotherapy did not significantly reduce mortality in burned mice challenged with immunotypes 5 and 6, but was highly protective against immunotypes 1-4 and 7. Groups of mice challenged with these 5 types and treated with .apprx. 100 or 400 mg IGIV/kg body wt had cumulative mortality rates at 15 days ranging from 0 to 30% vs. an overall mean 84.3% mortality in human serum albumin-treated controls. IGIV was protective if given up to 12 h after challenge. Thus, IGIV has significant in vivo activity against P. aeruginosa; IGIV immunotherapy may be of value in the treatment of major thermal trauma in man.