To be considered low risk all criteria must be met:

 

• Infant appears well (no signs of toxicity)

 

• No skin, soft tissue, bone, joint, or ear infection

 

• Previously health infant
  • Term birth
  • No perinatal antibiotic therapy
  • No history of unexplained hyperbilirubinemia
  • No previous or current antibiotic therapy
  • Not previously hospitalized except for birth (not hospitalized for longer than the mother)
  • No chronic or underlying illness

 

• Laboratory values
  • Peripheral WBC count of 5000-15,000/mm^3
  • Total band count of <1500/mm^3
  • <=10 WBC/hpf (x40) on microscopic examination of spun urine sediment
  • <=5 WBC/hpf (x40) on microscopic examination of a stool smear (in infants with diarrhea)

Content on this page has not been checked for accuracy. The author's credentials have not been confirmed. Always use multiple peer-reviewed scholarly sources and good clinical judgement in your decision making.

The Compendium platform was created by David Kwinter, MD, CCFP(EM).