Study designs of evaluations included in the review
Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were included.
Specific interventions included in the review
Antibiotic versus no antibiotic, or oral antibiotic versus IM antibiotic. Specific antibiotics studied included penicillin, amoxicillin, ceftriaxone, and amoxicillin/clavulanate.
Participants included in the review
Children between 3 months and 36 months of age who had a fever of greater or equal to 39C, no identified focus of infection and a blood culture obtained on initial visit. Patients were excluded if they had a focus of infection, a known or suspected hypersensitivity to the antibiotics being used, had received antibiotics or diptheria-pertussis-tetanus immunisation in the preceding 48 hours, had the stigmata of a specific viral infection, were immunodeficient or looked septic.
Outcomes assessed in the review
Serious bacterial infections, including meningitis, pneumonia, periorbital cellulitis, septic arthritis, osteomyelitis or persistant bacteremia.
How were decisions on the relevance of primary studies made?
Each retrieved article was independently reviewed by 2 authors to determine whether it met the inclusion criteria. Any disagreement was resolved by consensus.