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The Significance of Blood Cultures in the Newborn Period

The Significance of Blood Cultures in the Newborn Period Abstract Septicema during the newborn period often occurs with deceptively benign early clinical manifestations.1 Consequently, the clinician is forced to initiate vigorous antibiotic treatment on suspicion and thus depend upon a single pretreatment culture of the blood for a positive bacteriological diagnosis. It is important, therefore, to examine the validity of information gained from single cultures of the blood in newborn infants. As septicemia during the neonatal period is still a significant pediatric problem, it seemed important to investigate the interpretation of blood cultures at this age. Clinical Material and Methods Consecutive normal infants born over a three-month period at Ancker General Hospital, St. Paul, were studied. The infants had no physical abnormalities, no evidence of skin lesions or infection, and no temperature elevation. "Dry" skin care was practiced during this period of time. All blood for the cultures was drawn by one of us.Skin over the neck was References 1. Smith, R. T.; Platou, E. S., and Good, R. A.: Septicemia of the Newborn: Current Status of the Problem , Pediatrics 17:549, 1956. 2. Dunham, E. C.: Septicemia in the Newborn , Am. J. Dis. Child. 45:229, 1933. 3. Waddell, W. W., Jr.; Balsley, R. E., and Grossmann, W.: Positive Blood Cultures in Newborn Infants , J. Pediat. 38:426, 1948.Crossref 4. Guild, B. T.: Cutaneous Detergents: Experience with an Ether Sulfonate Compound , Arch. Dermat. & Syph. 51:391, 1945. 5. Chisholm, T. C.; Duncan, T. L.; Hufnagel, C. A., and Walter, C. W.: Disinfection Action of pHisoderm Containing 3% Hexachlorophene on the Skin of the Hands , Surgery 28:812, 1950. 6. Hardyment, A. F.: The Control of Infections in the Newborn , Canad. M. A. J. 70:379, 1954. 7. Shaffer, T. E.; Baldwin, J. N.; Rheins, M. S., and Sylvester, R. F.: Staphylococcal Infections in Newborn Infants , Pediatrics 18:750, 1956. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png A.M.A. Journal of Diseases of Children American Medical Association

The Significance of Blood Cultures in the Newborn Period

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References (10)

Publisher
American Medical Association
Copyright
Copyright © 1957 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
ISSN
0096-6916
DOI
10.1001/archpedi.1957.04030070013002
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

Abstract Septicema during the newborn period often occurs with deceptively benign early clinical manifestations.1 Consequently, the clinician is forced to initiate vigorous antibiotic treatment on suspicion and thus depend upon a single pretreatment culture of the blood for a positive bacteriological diagnosis. It is important, therefore, to examine the validity of information gained from single cultures of the blood in newborn infants. As septicemia during the neonatal period is still a significant pediatric problem, it seemed important to investigate the interpretation of blood cultures at this age. Clinical Material and Methods Consecutive normal infants born over a three-month period at Ancker General Hospital, St. Paul, were studied. The infants had no physical abnormalities, no evidence of skin lesions or infection, and no temperature elevation. "Dry" skin care was practiced during this period of time. All blood for the cultures was drawn by one of us.Skin over the neck was References 1. Smith, R. T.; Platou, E. S., and Good, R. A.: Septicemia of the Newborn: Current Status of the Problem , Pediatrics 17:549, 1956. 2. Dunham, E. C.: Septicemia in the Newborn , Am. J. Dis. Child. 45:229, 1933. 3. Waddell, W. W., Jr.; Balsley, R. E., and Grossmann, W.: Positive Blood Cultures in Newborn Infants , J. Pediat. 38:426, 1948.Crossref 4. Guild, B. T.: Cutaneous Detergents: Experience with an Ether Sulfonate Compound , Arch. Dermat. & Syph. 51:391, 1945. 5. Chisholm, T. C.; Duncan, T. L.; Hufnagel, C. A., and Walter, C. W.: Disinfection Action of pHisoderm Containing 3% Hexachlorophene on the Skin of the Hands , Surgery 28:812, 1950. 6. Hardyment, A. F.: The Control of Infections in the Newborn , Canad. M. A. J. 70:379, 1954. 7. Shaffer, T. E.; Baldwin, J. N.; Rheins, M. S., and Sylvester, R. F.: Staphylococcal Infections in Newborn Infants , Pediatrics 18:750, 1956.

Journal

A.M.A. Journal of Diseases of Children – American Medical Association

Published: Dec 1, 1957

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