[Septicemia index in the newborn infant].

Based on knowledge of the changes produced in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, segmented polymorphonuclears, non-segmented polymorphonuclears and platelets in patients with septicemia, a mathematic devise was developed and called septicemia index which correlated the four mentioned factors and made it possible to situate patients clinically suspicious of septicemia within three different groups: 1) positive, 2) probable and 3) negative. The method showed to be statistically significant in the early detection of septicemia in the infant and in cases without septicemia (p less than 0.01).

Usefulness of a microblood culture technique in neonatal septicemia.

Macroblood (MaHC) and microblood (MiHC) cultures were made in 200 neonates with a suspected diagnosis of septicemia so as to compare the efficiency of MiHC to isolate bacterias taking MaHC as reference. Blood was obtained by heel punctures in sterile test tubes soaked with polyanetol sodium sulphonate and later cultured in trypticase soy broth with sacharose 15 per cent. Positive percentage was 14.

[Intestinal immunoglobulins in children without infection].

Immunoglobulins in duodenal content were measured by immunodiffusion in children without infection. Two groups were studied: group I with 11 infants 1 to 35 months old without infectious problems and group II with 14 children 3 to 13 years old who one month previously had suffered typhiod fever. Two groups of commercial plates were used both designed to detect low levels.