The Association of the MeMed BV Test With Radiographic Pneumonia in Children.

BACKGROUND

The MeMed BV Test produces a score that increases with increasing likelihood of bacterial infection. We evaluated its association with radiographic pneumonia in children.

METHODS

We performed a secondary analysis of a multicenter prospective study of febrile children 90 days to 18 years presenting to an emergency department. We evaluated the association of the MeMed BV test with radiographic pneumonia in adjusted logistic regression models.

RESULTS

Of 182 children, 74 (41%) had radiographic pneumonia. Among children with a high likelihood of having viral illness per the BV test, 26% had radiographic pneumonia; this increased to 64% among those with a BV test which indicated a high likelihood of bacterial infection. The sensitivity and specificity for radiographic pneumonia when using a BV test classification of moderate or high likelihood of bacterial infection were 60.8% and 62.0%, respectively. A BV test indicating the highest likelihood of bacterial infection had 23.61 higher adjusted odds (95% confidence interval 6.30-88.6) of radiographic pneumonia. The most common radiographic finding among children classified as having a high likelihood of viral infection by the BV test was interstitial opacities. The most common finding among children classified as having a high likelihood of bacterial infection were infiltrates. Except for antibiotic use, clinical outcomes occurred in similar proportions by BV category.

CONCLUSIONS

Children with moderate to high likelihoods of bacterial infection on the BV test had higher odds of radiographic pneumonia. Apart from antibiotic use, the test was not significantly associated with clinical outcomes in this study.