美国波士顿医院常规对就诊的发热病儿作血培养检查。1971至1981年间,血培养证实为肺炎球菌、流感杆菌和脑膜炎球菌菌血症者共536例,其中脑膜炎球菌菌血症仅26例,约占5%。在脑膜炎球菌菌血症的患儿中,12例(48%)延误诊断。这些病例为3～20月龄的婴幼儿,于初诊时一般情况良好,发热介于38.8～40.9℃间(肛温),无皮疹、休克等严重疾病表现;9例作白细胞计数,低于 The Boston hospital in the United States routinely conducts blood culture tests on feverish sick children attending the clinic. Between 1971 and 1981, a total of 536 cases of pneumococcal, influenza and meningococcal bacteremia were confirmed in blood cultures, of which 26 were meningococcal bacteremia (about 5%). Of the children with meningococcal bacteremia, 12 (48%) were delayed in diagnosis. These cases are infants and young children aged 3 to 20 months, generally good at first visit, fever between 38.8 ~ 40.9 ℃ (rectal temperature), no rash, shock and other serious diseases; 9 cases of white blood cell count, lower than