A PROSPECTIVE STUDY OF THE RISK FOR SERIOUS BACTERIAL INFECTIONS IN HOSPITALIZED FEBRILE INFANTS WITH OR WITHOUT BRONCHIOLITIS

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess prospectively the frequency of concurrent serious bacterial infection (SBI) in febrile infants < or = 3 months of age with or without bronchiolitis. SBI was detected in 30 of 312 (9.6%) infants without bronchiolitis compared with 3 of 136 (2.2%) infants with bronchiolitis. The risk of SBI in febrile infants is significantly lower in the presence of bronchiolitis.