Clinical and laboratory features of patients identified with significant bacteraemia
| Age (y) | Sex | Month of presentation | Clinical features | Rash | Temp. | WCC (× 109/l) | CRP (mg/l) | Organism isolated | Method of detection |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13.4 | F | February | Toxic and shocked | Purpuric (initially petechial) | 38oC | 5.3 | 79 | N. meningiditis | + blood culture; + rapid Ag |
| 12.8 | M | February | Toxic and meningism, received IM BP | Petechial | 40oC | 24.5 | 302 | Group B streptococcus | + rapid Ag; − blood culture (post IM BP) |
| 1.46 | M | August | Not toxic | Petechial | 40.4oC | 22.7 | 50 | S. pneumoniae | + blood culture |
| 12.9 | M | January | Toxic | Petechial | 38.9oC | 16.8 | 277 | N. meningiditis type C | + PCR; + blood culture |
| 1.52 | F | January | Toxic | Purpuric (initially petechial) | 40.4oC | 15.2 | 45 | N. meningiditis type B | + PCR; − blood culture |
IM BP, intramuscular benzylpenicillin; PCR, polymerase chain reaction; +, positive; −, negative; Temp., temperature; Ag, antigen; WCC, white cell count; CRP, c-reactive protein.