A Polymerase Chain Reaction-based Epidemiologic Investigation of the Incidence of Nonpolio Enteroviral Infections in Febrile and Afebrile Infants 90 Days and Younger

Abstract

Nonpolio EV infections commonly cause fever in infants </=90 days of age. Rates of EV positivity are low in afebrile, unimmunized infants. The use of PCR to identify febrile infants with nonpolio EV infections may decrease length of hospital stay, unnecessary antibiotic administration, and charges.