Value of performing a chest radiograph in patients with diagnosis of "clinical sepsis".

In any infant admitted with diagnosis of "clinical sepsis", a chest radiograph is commonly obtained as a routine work-up. The purpose of this study was to establish the relationship between an abnormal chest radiograph and "clinical sepsis" in a population of infants. The clinical records and chest radiographs of 81 infants, (less than 3 month old) were reviewed. The temperature, white blood cell count, respiratory signs, symptoms, and chief complaints were recorded and compared with positive or negative chest radiographs. A statistically significant correlation with abnormality in the chest radiograph was not established. Four patients, (31%), with any respiratory signs had abnormal chest radiographs, whereas only 13, (19%) asymptomatic patients did. It was concluded that chest radiographs do not add useful information to the evaluation of a febrile infant who does not have clinical findings of pulmonary diseases. However, due to the limited population studied, it seems appropriate to continue the current recommended practice of ordering chest radiographs in febrile infants 3 months old or less.