Serologic Responses to Heterologous Escherichia Serogroups in Women with Pyelonephritis

Abstract

Hemagglutinating antibody levels to 11 heterologous escherichia serogroups (01, 04, 06, 07, 014, 018, 025, 075, 077, 086 and 0119) measured in 61 women with pyelonephritis and 48 control women, showed significantly higher mean levels to 04, 06 and 086 in those with pyelonephritis. Individual levels to 04 and 06 often exceeded 1:100 in them. No escherichia organisms were recovered from the urine of a third of the persons with pyelonephritis, and yet in half of these elevated (1:100 or higher) levels to serogroup 04 or 06 were present. Elevated levels to 06 in particular, and to multiple escherichia serogroups in general, occurred primarily in younger women (under 50 years old) with pyelonephritis. Escherichia antibody patterns could not be attributed to nosocomial infection. It is concluded that elevated hemagglutinin levels to heterologous escherichia serogroups constitute an indicator of pyelonephritis that may be particularly useful in the study of asymptomatic conditions and in infections partially treated by antimicrobial therapy.