Is Fever at Presentation Relevant in Infants Febrile at Home?

Investigators from Spain conducted a prospective cohort study to assess whether the presence or absence of fever on arrival at the ED is associated with invasive bacterial infections in infants who were febrile prior to arrival. Eligible infants were identified using an electronic registry maintained at the study institution that includes demographics and clinical and laboratory characteristics of all infants <90 days old brought to the ED with fever without a source (FWS). Infants in the registry who (a) had an axillary or rectal temperature at home of ≥38°C, (b) presented to the study institution’s ED between 2003 and 2016, (c) were previously healthy, (d) were documented as appearing well …