Table 1 Decision rules on the evidence-base for CRP testing in acute pediatric infections and neonatal sepsis
Infection Type | Evidence-Based CRP testing | Non-Evidence-Based CRP testing | Highest available Level of Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
Fever without focus | ___ | Baseline &/or follow up testing in patients with fever without focus who are >28 days of age | Level I (SR) |
Pneumonia | ___ | Baseline &/or follow up testing in febrile children with respiratory symptoms and an admission diagnosis of bronchitis, bronchiolitis, asthma, or pneumonia | Level I (SR) |
Urinary tract infections (UTI) | Baseline &/or follow up testing in febrile pyelonephritis | Baseline testing in febrile infants suspected to have UTI | Level III & IV (Cross-sectional & retrospective studies) |
Acute gastroenteritis | ___ | Baseline &/or follow up testing in febrile or non-febrile acute gastroenteritis | No evidence |
Meningitis | ___ | 1. Baseline testing in febrile children suspected to have meningitis | Level IV (Retrospective studies) |
| Â | Â | 2. Follow up testing in febrile children with meningitis | Â |
Acute osteomyelitis/Septic arthritis | Baseline &/or follow up testing in acute osteomyelitis &/or septic arthritis | ___ | Level IV (Case series) |
Acute appendicitis | Baseline &/or follow up testing in acute appendicitis | ___ | Level IV (Cross-sectional studies) |
Acute otitis media | ___ | Baseline &/or follow up testing in acute otitis media | Level II (Cross-sectional studies) |
Cellulitis | ___ | Any baseline or follow up testing in patients with any of those infections | No evidence |
Acute sinusitis | Â | Â | Â |
Tonsillitis | Â | Â | Â |
Neonatal sepsis | Testing on three consecutive days of a suspected sepsis episode | A single determination of CRP | Level I (SR) |