Silkworm larvae plasma (SLP) reagent, which is prepared from the body fluid of the silkworm, reacts with peptidoglycan (PG), a fragment of both the Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial cell wall, as well as with beta-glucan, a component of fungi. We developed a quantitative method for the detection of PG in human plasma from cases with bacterial infection using the SLP reagent. Tested in this way, the SLP method showed 86.2% sensitivity, 90.6% specificity, 89.3% positive predictive value, and 88.5% efficiency. The SLP method provides a valuable tool for the diagnosis of systemic infection using patients' blood.
The plasma TSST-1 and endotoxin levels were measured in 54 samples from 41 septic patients. The plasma TSST-9.8pg/ml in plasma. All patients received direct hemoperfusion with polymixin B-immobilized fiber (PMX) that removes endotoxin from the blood. Mortality was evaluated at 2 weeks after direct hemoperfusion. Forty-six samples (85.2%) were endotoxin positive. Thirty-five samples (64.8%) were TSST-1 positive. Thirty-two samples were both endotoxin and TSST-1 positive. Five samples were both TSST-1 and endotoxin negative. TSST-1 levels and non-survivors. The septic severity score and number of failing organs in the non-survivor group are significantly higher than those in the survivor group. TSST-1 prolonged endotoxin clearance from the blood. In severe sepsis, it is believed that polymicrobial infections are frequently complications and caused the poor prognosis.
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