Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2025 Jun 10.
doi: 10.1111/apa.70174. Online ahead of print.

Rapid Influenza Diagnosis in Children With Serious Bacterial Infection-Like Symptoms

Melanie Forster  1   2 , Alexandra Tielli  2 , Anne-Aurelie Lopes  3
Affiliations

Rapid Influenza Diagnosis in Children With Serious Bacterial Infection-Like Symptoms

Melanie Forster et al. Acta Paediatr. .

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the impact of the influenza diagnosis by the Quidel Sofia rapid influenza fluorescent immunoassay (FIA) on children presenting with serious bacterial infection (SBI)-like symptoms in an emergency department (ED).

Methods: A cohort study was conducted on 161 children with SBI-like symptoms, who underwent a Quidel Sofia test. The management of Influenza-positive and Influenza-negative children was compared on diagnostic tests, antibiotic use, and hospitalisation rates. Follow-up was performed 7-10 days post-discharge to confirm SBI non-omission.

Results: Influenza-positive children underwent fewer diagnostic tests, including fewer invasive tests, than influenza-negative children (58.1% vs. 90.7%, p < 0.001 and 47.7% vs. 72%, p = 0.002, respectively), received fewer antibiotics (10.5% vs. 33.3%, p < 0.001), had lower hospitalisation rates (20.9% vs. 40%, p = 0.008) and shorter ED visits (133 [52-257] minutes vs. 177 [92-273] minutes, p = 0.002). No influenza-positive patient had a missed SBI, even among the youngest patients. One developed a secondary SBI 4 days later resulting in death.

Conclusion: This study demonstrated the benefit of the influenza diagnosis by Quidel Sofia rapid influenza FIA in medical management without omitting SBI in children with SBI-like symptoms. Therefore, the Quidel Sofia test can help alleviate ED overcrowding during the influenza season while maintaining vigilance for bacterial co-infection.

Keywords: bacterial infection; influenza; rapid diagnostic tests.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. A. Galetto‐Lacour, S. Cordey, S. Papis, et al., “Viremia as a Predictor of Absence of Serious Bacterial Infection in Children With Fever Without Source,” European Journal of Pediatrics 182, no. 2 (2023): 941–947, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431‐022‐04690‐7.
    1. L. Bonilla, B. Gomez, C. Pintos, J. Benito, and S. Mintegi, “Prevalence of Bacterial Infection in Febrile Infant 61‐90 Days Old Compared With Younger Infants,” Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal 38, no. 12 (2019): 1163–1167, https://doi.org/10.1097/INF.0000000000002461.
    1. A. G. L'Huillier, C. Mardegan, S. Cordey, et al., “Enterovirus, Parechovirus, Adenovirus and Herpes Virus Type 6 Viraemia in Fever Without Source,” Archives of Disease in Childhood 105, no. 2 (2020): 180–186, https://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild‐2019‐317382.
    1. Y. Li, L. Min, and X. Zhang, “Usefulness of Procalcitonin (PCT), C‐Reactive Protein (CRP), and White Blood Cell (WBC) Levels in the Differential Diagnosis of Acute Bacterial, Viral, and Mycoplasmal Respiratory Tract Infections in Children,” BMC Pulmonary Medicine 21, no. 1 (2021): 386, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12890‐021‐01756‐4.
    1. I. Olaciregui, U. Hernández, J. A. Muñoz, J. I. Emparanza, and J. J. Landa, “Markers That Predict Serious Bacterial Infection in Infants Under 3 Months of Age Presenting With Fever of Unknown Origin,” Archives of Disease in Childhood 94, no. 7 (2009): 501–505, https://doi.org/10.1136/adc.2008.146530.

LinkOut - more resources