Serious bacterial illnesses in recently hospitalized young infants.

Abstract

We undertook a retrospective chart review of 27 patients less than 60 days of age, hospitalized for possible serious bacterial illness (SBI), but who were culture negative, and then readmitted within seven days for the same reason. Upon repeat evaluation for sepsis, five of these infants had significant illnesses; two (7.4%) had SBIs (one had pneumococcal bacteremia and the other a urinary tract infection), and three (11.1%) had aseptic meningitis. Our results suggest that young infants, despite recent hospitalization for possible SBI, may be at risk for a serious infectious process and need reevaluation if symptoms recur.