Use of clinical syndromes to target antibiotic prescribing in seriously ill children in malaria endemic area: observational study.

Presents research to evaluate how well antibiotic treatment works using simple rules based on current WHO guidelines, how application of these rules is affected by malaria parasitaemia in an endemic area, and to what extent drug resistance affects the affordability of antibiotics. Design, setting in Kenya, the number of pediatric participants, main outcome measures, and results; Information on various syndromes including meningitis/encephalopathy, severe malnutrition, skin or soft tissue infection, and pneumonia; Conclusion that simple clinical syndromes target children who have invasive bacterial infections and those at risk of death; Assertion lumbar puncture is necessary for the rational use of antibiotics.