Impact of the lab-score on antibiotic prescription rate in children with fever without source: a randomized controlled trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The Lab-score, based on the combined determination of procalcitonin, C-reactive protein and urinary dipstick results, has been shown accurate in detecting serious bacterial infections (SBI) in children with fever without source (FWS) on retrospective cohorts. We aimed to prospectively assess the utility of the Lab-score in safely decreasing antibiotic prescriptions in children with FWS and to determine its diagnostic characteristics compared to common SBI biomarkers.

Methods

Randomized controlled trial in children 7 days to 36 months old with FWS, allocated either to the Lab-score group (Lab-score reported, blinded WBC count) or to the control group (WBC, bands and C-reactive protein determined, blinded procalcitonin and Lab-score), followed up until recovery. Dem

SUBMITTER: Lacroix L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4263728 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature