Clinical outcomes
Clinical outcomes included LOS, minimal oxygen saturation (MOS), rate of
PICU admissions, and rates of secondary bacterial infections. LOS was
calculated from the ED admission to discharge from the hospital.
Prolonged LOS was defined as longer than the 75thpercentile. MOS was the lowest recorded oxygen saturation in room air
during hospitalization. PICU admission and assisted ventilation with
continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or non-invasive positive
pressure ventilation were also noted. The diagnoses of secondary
infections, such as pneumonia, UTI, AOM, meningitis, and bacteremia, as
well as the use of steroids or antibiotics during hospitalization, were
extracted from the patient’s electronic medical records.