A score identifying serious bacterial infections in children with fever without source

Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2008 Jul;27(7):654-6. doi: 10.1097/INF.0b013e318168d2b4.

Abstract

The objective of the study was to develop a simple clinical tool to identify serious bacterial infection (SBI) in children with fever without a source. For each child, a clinical assessment, a white blood cell count, a urine analysis, a determination of C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, and appropriate cultures were performed. Two hundred two children were studied of whom 54 (27%) had SBI. In the multivariate analysis, only procalcitonin [odds ratio (OR): 37.6], C-reactive protein (OR: 7.8), and urine dipstick (OR: 23.2) remained significantly associated with SBI. The sensitivity of the score for the identification of SBI was 94% and the specificity 81%. In the validation set the sensitivity of the score was 94% and the specificity 78%.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Bacteria / isolation & purification
  • Bacterial Infections / diagnosis*
  • Bacterial Infections / pathology
  • Bacterial Infections / physiopathology
  • C-Reactive Protein / analysis
  • Calcitonin / blood
  • Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide
  • Child, Preschool
  • Fever of Unknown Origin / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Leukocyte Count
  • Protein Precursors / blood
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Urinalysis

Substances

  • CALCA protein, human
  • Protein Precursors
  • Calcitonin
  • C-Reactive Protein
  • Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide