Rochester criteria for febrile infants
Identifies febrile infants 60 days or younger at low risk of serious bacterial infection.
Inputs
Ill-appearing
Not previously healthy (preterm, perinatal antibiotics, treated jaundice, prior hospitalization, chronic illness)
Skin, soft tissue, bone, joint, or ear infection
WBC below 5,000 or above 15,000/µL
Absolute band count above 1,500/µL
Urine WBC above 10 per high-power field
Stool WBC above 5 per high-power field (if diarrhea)
Worked calculation
Your values are highlighted.
- Criteria present
When to use
- Febrile infants 60 days or younger.
Pearls and pitfalls
- Low risk only if every criterion is met; newer rules (PECARN, AAP 2021) use procalcitonin.
Why use
Classic low-risk criteria.
Positive if any criterion is present