The treatment of infection and septicemia in the newborn.

The authors discuss the reasons for the frequently fatal outcome of infections in the newborn and report their own bacteriological findings in cases of perinatal infections. The predominant organisms were group D streptococci, staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, and anerobic bacteria, most of which were sensitive to clindamycin. Following introduction of clindamycin therapy, in combination with an aminoglycoside or ampicillin, the duration of hospitalization was shortened by an average of six days, and the duration of treatment by an average of three days.