Annals of emergency medicine
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Validated prediction rules identify febrile neonates at low risk for invasive bacterial infection. The optimal approach for older febrile infants, however, remains uncertain. ⋯ Although invasive bacterial infections were uncommon among febrile infants 2 to 6 months in the emergency department, the approach to diagnosis and management varied widely between sites. Therefore, evidence-based guidelines are needed to reduce low-value testing and treatment while avoiding missing infants with invasive bacterial infections.