[Comparison of capillary and venous blood cultures in experimental bacteremia in chickens]

In order to evaluate bacteraemia in chickens previously inoculated intravenously with 10(4)-10(6) Escherichia coli K12, a comparative study of the sensitivity of 500 microliters or 50 microliters venous blood cultures and 50 microliters capillary blood cultures was carried out. Results of 206 blood cultures performed on 20 different chickens were negative in 147 cases and positive in 59. After 30 minutes, the sensitivity of capillary blood cultures was comparable to that of 500 microliters venous blood cultures and significantly higher than that of 50 microliters venous blood cultures. This greater sensitivity of capillary blood cultures in cases of prolonged bacteraemia may be due to capillary sequestration of bacteria. Micro-blood cultures appear to be of major interest in the diagnosis of septicaemia in neonates, and the capillary trapping hypothesis will require confirmation by means of a quantitative study.