Immunotherapy in gram-negative bacterial infections.

Endotoxins are responsible for initiation of septic shock which increases the number of fatalities in Gram-negative bacteremia among hospital patients. The mortality from septic shock is still high despite recent developments in antibiotic therapy because antibiotics are unable to decrease the level of free lipopolysaccharide in the blood stream. Another approach to the treatment and prevention of septicaemia involves stimulation of an immune response against LPS. It was found that immunization with the core structures of endotoxin conjugated with proteins protected animals against infections and endotoxic shock. Anticonjugate sera are of great interest because they are directed against conserved parts of LPS and therefore could have cross-reactive and cross-protective properties with respect to many Gram-negative rods.