Reducing the Risk: An Evidence-Based Approach to the Febrile Infant <60 Days of Age in the Emergency Department.

Fever is the most common complaint for children of all ages who present to an emergency department (ED) for evaluation and treatment. Although most children with fever have a self-limiting viral illness, the infant less than 60 days of age with fever poses a higher risk for an underlying serious bacterial illness (SBI) including urinary tract infections, bacteremia and bacterial meningitis, or an invasive bacterial infection (IBI) including bacteremia. This case is a discussion of a high-risk febrile infant that was evaluated in the emergency department and was ultimately diagnosed with Streptococcus B meningitis.

Implementing Safe and Effective Pediatric Procedural Sedation in the Emergency Department.

There has been a great increase in the number of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in the emergency department (ED) setting over the past several decades. Most of these procedures are unscheduled, unplanned, and much more likely to be successful and result in a positive outcome when the child's pain, fear, anxiety, and movement are controlled. To promote patient quality and safety, increase the effectiveness and efficiency of care, and improve patient and caregiver satisfaction, there has been a proportionate increase in the number of pediatric procedural sedations performed in the ED.

Pediatric Sexual Abuse: An Interprofessional Approach to Optimizing Emergency Care.

Introduction: Pediatric sexual abuse can lead to devastating lifelong consequences for the child, their caregivers, and society at large. To achieve the goal of optimizing patient outcomes, strategies to enhance teamwork, education, and mentorship are essential. The ultimate goal of child safety and protection through an evidence-based approach will only be attained when interprofessional alignment of expertise and resources is implemented.

Child maltreatment: interventions to improve recognition and reporting.

Child maltreatment is a significant public health problem and described as one of the greatest threats facing the health, welfare, and social well-being of children (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2012).