Asymptomatic bacteremia in the newborn infant**

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Routine blood cultures were drawn from 131 asymptomatic 3-day-old infants, yielding 21 positive cultures. Of these, 18 were not clinically significant, 1 patient had probable septicemia, and 2 had prolonged bacteremia. A third case of prolonged bacteremia was discovered at 8 days of age. The 3 patients with prolonged bacteremia and the one with septicemia are presented in detail. The occurrence of bacteremia in asymptomatic infants emphasizes the need for carefully evaluating every positive blood culture obtained from a newborn infant.

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Supported in part by Grants E-4690 and AM-08305 from The National Institutes of Health, and the Rainbow Hospital Research Fund.

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Present address: Children's Hospital Medical Center, 300 Longwood Ave., Boston, Mass.

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