Skin and Soft Tissue Infections in Young Infants.

INTRODUCTION:The management of young infants with skin and soft tissue infection is not well-defined. METHODS:We performed a survey study of pediatric hospital medicine, emergency medicine, urgent care, and primary care physicians to assess the management of young infants with skin and soft tissue infection. The survey included 4 unique scenarios of a well-appearing infant with uncomplicated cellulitis of the calf with the combination of age ≤ 28 days vs 29-60 days and the presence vs absence of fever. RESULTS:Of 229 surveys distributed, 91 were completed (40%). Hospital admission was chosen more often for younger infants (≤ 28 days) versus older infants regardless of fever status (45% vs 10% afebrile, 97% vs 38% febrile, both PPPCONCLUSIONS:Frontline pediatricians appear relatively comfortable with outpatient management of cellulitis in young infants and rarely pursued meningitis evaluation in any afebrile infants or older febrile infants.