SERIOUS BACTERIAL ILLNESSES IN RECENTLY HOSPITALIZED YOUNG INFANTS

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 pneum ococcal bacteremia and the other a urinary tract infection), and three (11.1%) had aseptic meningitis. Our results suggest that young infant s, despite recent hospitalization for possible SBI, may be at risk for a serious infectious process and need reevaluation if symptoms recur.