Evaluation of infectious episodes in neonates using a new procedure for the nitroblue tetrazolium test

A new procedure for the NBT slide test for peripheral blood neutrophils has been tested. 255 neonates were studied of which 63 served as control cases. Among the 114 term infants, 37 were patently infected, 30 suspicious and 47 non-infected. The latter did not significantly differ from control cases, whereas suspicious and infected infants were credited with significantly higher NBT scores. 78 infants were preterm, 31 of which were patently infected, 22 suspicious and 25 non-infected. NBT scores of infected and suspicious infants were significantly higher than those of non-infected infants, but, as previously reported, scores of preterm infants were systematically and significantly lower than those of full-term infants of the same bacteriological class. Threshold values are suggested; they could represent an accurate diagnostic aid in the early differentiation of healthy infants from high-risk infants regarding bacterial infections.