Bacterial infection in the fetus and newborn.

Bacterial Infection in the Fetus and Newborn Zuchowski, and Taylor, 1969). It appears that synthesis of complement by the fetus starts before that of the immunoglobulins, and Adinolfi and Gardner (1967) have detected C' 3 and C' 4 in fetuses from 15 weeks gestation onwards, though traces of C' 3 have been present as early as 12 weeks (Adinolfi, Gardner, and Wood, 1968). Fireman et al. (1969) found C' 5 in addition in the youngest fetus they tested at 18 weeks' gestation, and thought there was a direct correlaticn between gestational age and amount of C' 3, C' 4, and C' 5 present.