Comparaison des hémocultures capillaires et veineuses lors de bactériémies expérimentales chez le poulet

Summary 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 μl or 50 μl venous blood cultures and 50 μl capillary blood cultures was carried out. Results of 206 blood cultures performed on 20 different chickens werenegative in 147 cases and positive in 59. After 30 minutes, the sensitivity of capillary blood cultures was comparable to that of 500 μl venous blood cultures and significantly higher than that of 50 μl 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 ofsepticaemia in neonates, and the capillary trapping hypothesis will require confirmation by means of a quantitative study.