Cerebrospinal fluid enterovirus testing in infants 56 days or younger.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To determine whether cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) enterovirus polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing of febrile neonates is associated with a shorter hospital length of stay (LOS).

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Urban tertiary care children's hospital emergency department.

Participants

Febrile infants 56 days or younger evaluated by means of lumbar puncture.

Main exposure

Performance of CSF enterovirus PCR testing.

Main outcome measure

Hospital LOS.

Results

A CSF enterovirus PCR test was performed in 361 of 1231 eligible infants (29.3%); 89 of those tested (24.7%) were positive. The median LOS was 2 days. In multivariable analysis, CSF enterovirus PCR testing was associated with a 26.0% shorter LOS for infants with a pos

SUBMITTER: Dewan M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12450295 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature