Concomitant Bacterial Infection in Infants with Respiratory Syncytial Virus

Juliana Mariani

Chadi M. El Saleeby

Background

Febrile infants ≤60 days old are at high risk for serious bacterial infections (SBIs), including meningitis, bacteremia, and urinary tract infections (UTIs). It was unclear whether young infants with documented respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection also had a similarly elevated risk.

Objectives

To assess the risk of SBIs in febrile infants with RSV as compared to those without RSV.

Methods

Prospective cross-sectional study in 8 US centers from 1998 to 2001.

Patients

1,248 febrile (≥38°C) infants ≤60 days old presenting to a pediatric emergency department. Select exclusion criteria: antibiotics ≤48 hours prior to presentation, no bacterial cultures or RSV testing obtained.

Intervention

Patients underwent history and physical examination, nasopharyngeal swab for RSV rapid antigen detection, complete blood count with differential and cultures of blood, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

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