title: Diagnostic needle aspiration in pediatric practice. With special reference to lungs, middle ear, urinary bladder, and amniotic cavity.
abstract: Effective antibiotics are now available for most of the common bacterial infections. However, with few exceptions they are limited in their spectrum of activity and some have significant toxicity. In order to provide rational therapy, the physician must have knowledge of the infecting organism. The pediatrician is at a particular disadvantage in obtaining specific etiologic information since his young patient is often unable to cooperate or volunteer materials. In the critically ill child, every effort should be made to obtain material from blood and from the focus of infection. Indirect cultures such as those of materials from the nose and throat frequently yield confusing results as to the etiology of lower respiratory tract infection and of otitis media. Needle aspiration of material from the infected focus provides material directly pertinent to the etiologic agent for immediate and definitive diagnosis. Lung punctures and aspiration of middle ear fluids and bladder urine are discussed as examples of useful application of the techniques of needle aspiration. The pediatrician should become familiar with these techniques and use them where applicable.
authors: Harvard Medical SchoolEngland Medical Center, Boston, USA.
authors: J O
authors: JO
authors: Klein
authors: S S
authors: SS
authors: Gellis
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000649:Amniocentesis / Q000379:methods; D000650:Amnion / Q000473:pathology*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology*; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000473:pathology; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000473:pathology; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000473:pathology*