EFFECT OF ORAL-ADMINISTRATION OF BACTERIAL EXTRACTS ON THE BACTERICIDAL CAPACITY OF POLYMORPHONUCLEAR LEUKOCYTES IN CHILDREN WITH RECURRENT RESPIRATORY-INFECTIONS

The effect of orally administered bacterial extracts given intermittently over 16 weeks on the bactericidal capacity of polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNs) in children with recurrent respiratory infections was investigated using a luminol-amplified chemiluminescence assay. Chemiluminescence of PMNs stimulated with zymosan or N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) before and after treatment with bacterial extracts or intramuscular benzanthine penicillin was evaluated. Chemiluminescence induced by opsonized zymosan increased significantly (P < 0.05) after treatment with bacterial extracts, whereas no significant changes were observed in the fMLP-stimulated PMNs. Long-acting penicillin treatment did not significantly affect zymosan- or fMLP-stimulated chemiluminescence. The data suggest that orally administered bacterial extracts can increase the opsonic capacity of serum and thus the bactericidal capacity of PMNs in subjects with recurrent respiratory infections.