Table 2 Change in physicians' self-reported approach to the well-appearing young child with white blood cell count of 17,500/μL, with relation to PCV vaccination status
Not Vaccinated child (n = 690) | Vaccinated child (n = 690) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Wait-and see (n;%) | 229 (33.2%) | 321 (46.5%) | |
Empiric antibiotic therapy (n;%) | 381 (55.2%) | 337 (48.8%) | |
Hospital admission (n;%) | 80 (11.6%) | 32 (4.7%) | |
P (vaccinated vs. not-vaccinated child) | <0.0001 | ||
Investigations (ordered at any time during febrile illness) | Not Vaccinated child (n = 690) | Vaccinated child (n = 690) | P |
▪ Blood culture | 107 (15.5%) | 77 (11.2%) | 0.022 |
▪ C reactive protein | 468 (67.8%) | 394 (57.1%) | <0.0001 |
▪ Erythrocyte sedimentation rate | 163 (23.6%) | 126 (18.2%) | 0.017 |
▪ Urine analysis or dipstick | 428 (62.0%) | 359 (52.0%) | 0.028 |
▪ Urine culture | 324 (47.0%) | 311 (45.0%) | 0.501 |
▪ Stool culture | 12 (1.7%) | 14 (2.0%) | 0.843 |
▪ Group A β haemolitic streptococcus rapid test | 165 (23.9%) | 139 (20.1) | 0.104 |
▪ Chest X ray | 56 (8.1%) | 41 (5.9%) | 0.140 |
▪ Abdomen ultrasound scan | 3 (0.5%) | 3 (0.5%) | 0.682 |
▪ Lumbar puncture | 7 (1.0%) | 6 (0.9%) | 1.000 |