PECARN Febrile Infant Serious Bacterial Infection Prediction Rule calculator

Primary scope: infants ≤60 days old from whom blood cultures were obtained while research staff were available in a prospective 26-emergency-department cohort. Fever was rectal temperature ≥38.0°C in the ED, a prior healthcare setting, or at home within 24 hours. Exclusions were critically ill appearance, antibiotics in the preceding 48 hours, prematurity ≤36 weeks’ gestation, pre-existing medical conditions, indwelling devices, or soft-tissue infections; otitis media was not excluded. A positive urinalysis was leukocyte esterase, nitrite, or >5 WBCs/high-power field. SBI comprised UTI, bacteremia, or bacterial meningitis. The rule does not replace clinical judgment.