Wide Variation in Adherence to Management Guidelines for Neonatal Fever

In a study of 36 pediatric emergency departments, only 66% of febrile neonates received recommended management, and adherence varied more than twofold.

To characterize variations in management of neonatal fever, investigators retrospectively evaluated records for 2253 febrile neonates (≤28 days of age) who presented to 36 U.S. pediatric emergency departments (EDs) in 2010.

Overall, 66% of patients received all aspects of recommended management; adherence ranged from 39% to 88% across EDs. Seventy-three percent of patients received blood, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid cultures; 79% received ampicillin plus a third-generation cephalosporin or gentamicin; and 84% were admitted to the hospital. Three percent of patients were discharged from the ED without any recommended testing or treatment. Overall, serious infections were diagnosed in 12% of patients; these included urinary tract infections…

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)

Wide Variation in Adherence to Management Guidelines for Neonatal Fever

Topics

Reviewing Author