A positive virus test confers lower risk for bacterial coinfection, but careful evaluation for SBI should continue.
Febrile infants aged less than 60 days are at increased risk for serious bacterial infection (SBI) compared with older infants. To examine the association between viral infection status and SBI risk in these infants, researchers conducted a secondary analysis of data from a large prospective observational cohort study.
The analysis included nearly 3000 febrile infants aged ≤60 days presenting to an emergency department for whom viral testing and at least one blood culture were performed. Just under half were virus-positive. Virus-negative infants were more likely to be less than 28 days old. There were no differences in temperature elevation or degree of illness between the two groups.
The overall SBI rate was significantly lower in virus-pos…
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DisclosuresGrant/Research SupportNIH Institutional Clinical and Translational Science Award; Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality National Center for Pediatric Practice Based Research Learning; Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute
Editorial BoardsCurrent Problems in Pediatric Adolescent Healthcare
Leadership Positions in Professional Societies College of Physicians of Philadelphia (Board of Trustees)
DisclosuresGrant/Research SupportNIH Institutional Clinical and Translational Science Award; Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality National Center for Pediatric Practice Based Research Learning; Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute
Editorial BoardsCurrent Problems in Pediatric Adolescent Healthcare
Leadership Positions in Professional Societies College of Physicians of Philadelphia (Board of Trustees)