Predicting serious bacterial infection in febrile young infants utilizing body temperature.

Background: Febrile young infants have a high risk of serious infection. Although measuring vital sign parameters can serve as a rapid and effective assessment in these patients, their predictive value for serious bacterial infection (SBI) has not been fully investigated. Methods: This retrospective observational study enrolled febrile (>38.0°C) infants aged <90 days at the time of presentation. Data from the emergency room triage database at Tokyo Metropolitan Children's Medical Center for the period 1 November 2011–30 November 2013, were reviewed. Variables included patient age, gender, and vital sign data, including body temperature, pulse rate, oxygen saturation, definitive diagnosis, and disposition. Results: Two hundred and sixty‐nine patients were included, with a mean age of 55 days, and 158 (58.7%) were male. Of the total, 43 patients had an SBI. On logistic regression, body temperature ≥38.5°C (OR, 2.80; 95%CI: 1.37–5.74) was a significant predictor of SBI. Conclusion: High‐grade fever was found to be a significant predictor of SBI in febrile young infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]