• Alan E Simon, Susan L Lukacs, and Pauline Mendola.
• Infant, Child, and Women's Health Statistics Branch, Office of Analysis and Epidemiology, National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hyattsville, MD 20782 USA. fpa8@cdc.gov
• Pediatr Emerg Care. 2013 May 1; 29 (5): 560567560-7.

ObjectivesThe epidemiology of serious bacterial infections in children has changed since the introduction of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV-7) in 2000. Whether emergency department (ED) physicians have changed diagnostic approaches to fever without a source (FWS) in response is unknown. We examine trends in rates of complete blood count (CBC), urinalysis (UA), and blood cultures among 2- to 24-month-old children with FWS since the introduction of PCV-7.MethodsThe National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey-Emergency Department, 2001-2009, was used to identify visits to the ED by 2- to 24-month-old children with FWS. Rates of CBC, UA, neither CBC nor UA, and blood culture were tracked across time. Trends were identified using Joinpoint regression and bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions with year as the independent variables and ordering of each test as the dependent variables.ResultsIn bivariate and multivariate analyses, CBC orders declined between 2004 and 2009 for visits by all children 2 to 24 months, children 2 to 11 months, and boys 2 to 24 months (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.88 per year [P < 0.01]; aOR, 0.88 [P < 0.05]; and aOR, 0.83 [P < 0.01], respectively). Between 2004 and 2009, ordering neither CBC nor UA increased among all children 2 to 24 months (aOR, 1.10; P < 0.05) and among boys (aOR, 1.16; P < 0.05). Orders for blood cultures declined across the time period in bivariate analysis, but not in multivariate analysis.ConclusionsThe rate of ordering a CBC for children in the 2- to 24-month age group presenting to the ED with FWS declined, a change coincident with the changing epidemiology of serious bacterial infection since the PCV-7 vaccine was introduced.

36 keywords...

hide…