The Diagnostic Value of Human Neutrophilic Peptides 1-3 in Acute Pediatric Febrile Illness.

It is prudent to develop biomarkers that enhance the differentiation between viral and bacterial infection in order to support expeditious and judicious antimicrobial implementation in emergency department admissions. Human neutrophilic peptides 1-3 (HNP1-3) are the major neutrophilic peptides with potent antimicrobial activity. We tested the performance of the plasma HNP1-3 test in a prospective observational cohort of children admitted to the emergency department for fever.