Protecting Babies from Infections
Reported October 06, 2008
(Ivanhoe Newswire) — In the United States, most emergency room (ER) pediatric cases involve infants suffering from fevers. Now, a simple blood test may help identify which babies are at risk of acquiring dangerous bacterial infections.
The blood test works by identifying a new diagnostic marker called procalcitonin (PCT). Researchers say it can help determine whether feverish infants less than three months of age are at high risk for serious bacterial infections (SBIs), such as urinary tract infections and blood stream infections.
Investigators at Childrens Hospital Boston and George Washington University used the test on 234 babies who had fevers; 18 percent had definite or possible SBIs. Results of the study showed procalcitonin effectively detected all SBI cases and was sensitive enough to point out infants at low risk of serious infections.
Currently, infants brought into the ER with fevers undergo extensive evaluations to determine whether they have a serious infection, including blood tests, urine tests and often, spinal taps. They are also often hospitalized and treated with antibiotics. Physicians hope the new test will change that protocol.
We hope to identify those infants that are at very low risk of serious infection and tailor their evaluation so as to minimize invasive testing and exposure to unnecessary antibiotics, Richard Bachur, M.D., acting chief of emergency medicine at Childrens Hospital Boston, was quoted as saying. The FDA recently approved the procalcitonin test.
SOURCE: Pediatrics, 2008;122:701-710