Neutrophil granulocyte function in bacterial and protozoal infections

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to assess neutrophil chemotaxis, phagocytosis, neutrophil metabolic changes and killing capacity [neutrophil alkaline phosphatase activity [NAPA], and nitroblue tetrazolium [NBT] reduction test] in bacterial and protozoal infections. Nineteen patients with bacterial urinary tract infection [UTI] [10 cases with Gram negative and 9 cases with Gram- positive], and 16 patients with protozoal infections [10 cases with amoebic liver abscess and 6 cases with intestinal giardiasis] were the material of this study. Ten healthy age matched volunteers were selected as a control. Chemotaxis and NBT reduction were not affected in all patients. Phagocytic activity was significantly increased [p< 0.002] in patients with Gram-positive bacterial infection, while it showed a highly significant increase [p < 0.002] in patients with Gram-negative bacterial infection. In intestinal giardiasis patients phagocytic activity was qualitatively increased, whereas it was increased quantitatively in amoebic liver abscess patients. NAPA was not affected in intestinal giardiasis patients, whereas in amoebic liver abscess patients and bacterial infection patients it was increased. Therefore, to assess neutrophil activity in microbial infections more than one function test is essential and thus when planning for treatment this could be taken into consideration