Significance of bacterial agglutination in the development of experimental sepsis

The development of signs of generalized infection were studied in rats infected with a suspension ofPseudomonas aeruginosa, with dissociated (controls) or agglutinated (experiment) immune serum. All signs of the generalization of the process were reliably lower in the experiment than in the control. A favorable course of the infection after the administration of agglutinated agent indicated that the infection was generalized and secondary foci were initiated during the first days postinoculation, when antibodies to the agent had not yet been produced.