A score identifying serious bacterial infections in children with fever without source.
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%.
Child and Adolescent Department, University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland. annick.galetto@hcuge.ch
Annick Galetto
AG
Lacour
Samuel A
SA
Zamora
Alain
A
Gervaix
D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000097:blood; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005335:Fever of Unknown Origin / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016482:Urinalysis
C000606589:CALCA protein, human; D011498:Protein Precursors; D002116:Calcitonin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide