Question

A 3-week-old full-term infant is brought to the emergency department with fever of 101.8°F (38.8°C) and poor feeding. Physical examination is otherwise unremarkable. There are no focal signs of infection. According to current AAP guidelines, what is the most appropriate initial management?

Accepted Answer

Perform no labs and treat presumptively for viral infection.

Answer

Discharge home with close outpatient follow-up and no testing.

Answer

Obtain blood, urine, and CSF cultures and start empiric IV antibiotics with hospital admission.

Answer

Obtain only a urine culture and treat with oral antibiotics if positive.

Answer

Give a single dose of IM ceftriaxone and arrange next-day outpatient review.

Practice question

A 3-week-old full-term infant is brought to the emergency department with fever of 101.8°F (38.8°C) and poor feeding. Physical examination is otherwise unremarkable. There are no focal signs of infection. According to current AAP guidelines, what is the most appropriate initial management?