Characteristic | Inclusion | Exclusion |
---|---|---|
Publication date | Studies published in the past 10 years | Studies published before 2003 |
Design | Studies that had recorded clinical features; prospective or retrospective cohort study design | Unclear methods |
Sample Size | > 500 children | < 500 children |
Participants | Age between 1 month and 18 years of age; studies including children spanning this age range were included if they reported age (or age could be calculated) | Children with congenital or obtained immunodeficiency. Age outside the required range |
Setting | Ambulatory care (defined as general or family practice, pediatric outpatient clinics, pediatric assessment units, or emergency departments). Developed countries, defined using the United Nations list, which included Europe, Canada, USA, Australia, New Zealand and Japan | Studies conducted in developing countries |
Outcome | Serious infection, defined as sepsis (including bacteremia), meningitis, pneumonia, osteomyelitis, cellulitis, and complicated urinary-tract infection (positive urine culture and systemic effects such as fever) | Diagnosis other than serious infection |
Data availability | Agreement to share data | Â |