Cost Effective Screening for UTI in Febrile Children

摘要

Emergency department physicians should have a low threshold for screening for211u001eurinary tract infection (UTI) since it is often present and its sequelae are 211u001esevere. While there is little consistent information about the prevalence of UTI 211u001eamong febrile pediatric patients in the emergency department, there is much 211u001edebate about the most appropriate clinical and laboratory criteria for diagnosis. 211u001eScreening is uncomfortable for patients and its costs are significant. A 211u001eprospective study of febrile infants less than 1 year of age and febrile girls 211u001eages 1-4 years in a high-volume urban pediatric emergency department will be 211u001econducted to determine the prevalence of UTI; (2) determine the usefulness of 211u001erapid screening tests for UTI, and (3) identify clinical predictors and develop 211u001eclinical prediction models to stratify children at high risk for UTI.