Abstract
We assessed the effectiveness of laboratory markers in determining the presence of
serious bacterial infection (SBI) in well-appearing children aged 3 months to 17 years
with fever without source (FWS). One hundred eighteen patients aged between 3 months
and 17 years presenting to the pediatric department due to fever and with no focus
of fever determined through history and physical examination were included in this
prospective study. SBI was determined in 14 (11.9%) of the 118 patients. No significant
difference was determined between the two groups in terms of age, sex, degree of fever,
duration of fever, and mean platelet volume. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR),
C-reactive protein (CRP), and procalcitonin (PCT) were identified as independent predictive
markers in a multivariate logistic regression analysis. PCT above 0.58 ng/mL emerged
as the most sensitive and specific test at receiver operating curve analysis (sensitivity:
92.8%, specificity: 90.3%, area under the curve: 0.908, and p < 0.001). The method with the highest positive predictive value, 69.2, was a laboratory
score consisting of CRP, PCT, and complete urine analysis ≥3 (95% confidence interval
[CI]: 38.6–90.7), while the marker with the highest negative predictive value, 98.9,
was PCT > 0.58 ng/mL (95% CI:94.3–99.8). The NLR, CRP, and PCT were independent predictive
markers in determining the presence of SBI in well-appearing children with FWS. PCT
was the marker with the highest sensitivity and specificity in determining presence
of SBI. The method with the highest positive predictive value was laboratory score,
while PCT was the marker with the best negative predictive value.
Keywords
fever without source - serious bacterial infection - childhood
