Septicemia in the new-born, although undoubtedly not so frequent as before the introduction of aseptic obstetric technic, still plays an important and often unrecognized rôle in neonatal morbidity and mortality. Even at the present time, however, no data are available on its true incidence because of the relative infrequency with which blood cultures of young infants are made. Many cases of septicemia are overlooked or are diagnosed only when localized lesions appear unless blood cultures are made in all cases of obscure illness in the neonatal period.
The present report of thirty-nine cases of septicemia in the new-born seen in the wards of the New Haven Hospital illustrates the frequency with which such diagnoses can be made if routine blood cultures are made as an aid to diagnosis in this period of life.
REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE
Only eight reports of streptococcus septicemia in the neonatal period confirmed by blood