Rapid influenza test in young febrile infants for the identification of low-risk patients

Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2009 Nov;28(11):1026-8. doi: 10.1097/INF.0b013e3181ab603c.

Abstract

We included 381 febrile infants less than 3 months with a blood culture and a rapid influenza test done as part of study of fever. The prevalence of serious bacterial infections was significantly lower in patients in the positive rapid influenza test (RIT) group (3/113; 2.65%; 95% CI: 0-5.6) than in patients in the negative RIT group (47/268; 17.5%; 95% CI: 13-22.0). No patient with a positive RIT had a positive blood culture (vs. 8 in the negative RIT group, 2.98%, 95% CI: 0.9-5.0) The cerebrospinal fluid culture was positive in 5; all of them had a negative RIT. The use of RIT in the Emergency Department on previously well-appearing febrile young infants without a known source during influenza seasons can help to identify infants with a lower risk of developing serious bacterial infections. Routine blood culture may be no longer necessary in infants with a positive RIT.

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Infections / diagnosis
  • Blood / microbiology
  • Cerebrospinal Fluid / microbiology
  • Female
  • Fever of Unknown Origin / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Influenza, Human / diagnosis*
  • Male
  • Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / methods*