Febrile Infant: Patient Inclusion and Exclusion

Inclusion criteria:

• “Term”: Estimated gestational age (EGA) > 37 weeks.
• “Healthy”: Patients with the following conditions are excluded from this guideline:
  • Preterm infants (< 37 weeks gestation).
  • Infants younger than two weeks of age whose perinatal courses were complicated by maternal fever, infection, and/or antimicrobial use.
  • Infants with documented or suspected immune compromise.
  • Infants whose neonatal course was complicated by surgery or infection.
  • Infants with congenital or chromosomal abnormalities.
  • Medically fragile infants requiring some form of technology or ongoing therapeutic intervention to sustain life.
• “Without identifiable infection”: There is no evidence of a focal bacterial infection present (e.g., cellulitis, omphalitis, septic arthritis, osteomyelitis). These infections should be managed according to accepted standards.
• “Temperature ≥ 38°C”: Patients have documented rectal temperatures of ≥ 38°C or 100.4°F at home in the past 24 hours or determined in a clinical setting.

Exclusion criteria:

• ≤ 7 days.
• Preterm infants ≤ 37 weeks.
• Younger than two weeks of age whose perinatal courses were complicated by maternal fever, infection, and/or antimicrobial use.
• Focal bacterial infection (e.g., cellulitis, omphalitis, septic arthritis, osteomyelitis). These infections should be managed according to accepted standards.
• Infants with clinical bronchiolitis, with or without positive test results for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
• Documented or suspected immune compromise.
• Neonatal course was complicated by surgery or infection.
• Congenital or chromosomal abnormalities.
• Medically fragile infants requiring some form of technology or ongoing therapeutic intervention to sustain life.
• Infants who have received immunizations within the last 48 hours.