Diagnosis of neonatal bacteremia by a microblood culture technique. A preliminary report.

A method is described for obtaining blood by heel-stick from high-risk neonatal infants for bacteriologic studies. Results of culture of blood collected by heel-sick are compared to those of simultaneously drawn blood from a peripheral vein. The data obtained suggest that this method may be a useful adjunct in the close surveillance for bacteremia in high-risk neonates.