The NICE Traffic Light System Guides Evaluation of Young Febrile Children

Adding urine testing to the NICE system increased sensitivity from 86% to 92%.

The U.K. National Institute for Health and Clinical Experience (NICE) traffic light system guides the initial assessment and management of young febrile children (http://www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/live/11010/30525/30525.pdf). To evaluate its performance for identifying the most common serious bacterial infections (SBIs) —urinary tract infections (UTIs), pneumonia, and bacteremia — researchers retrospectively applied the system to children aged <5 years who presented to a pediatric emergency department in Australia with temperatures ≥38.0°C or parent reports that their children felt hot. The investigators categorized patients into low (green), intermediate (amber), and high (red) risk based on presenting signs and symptoms.

Of 15,781 children …

Reviewing Author

Katherine Bakes, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier)

Grant/Research SupportDepartment of Justice

Editorial BoardsEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier); Rosen’s Emergency Medicine (Elsevier)

Katherine Bakes, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier)

Grant/Research SupportDepartment of Justice

Editorial BoardsEmergency Medicine Secrets (Elsevier); Rosen’s Emergency Medicine (Elsevier)