Evidence · Randomised trial
Permissive versus restrictive temperature thresholds in critically ill children with fever and infection: a multicentre randomized clinical pilot trial.
- Communicating with families
- Infection and sepsis
- Medical
- Nursing
- Professional practice
- Sepsis
- Transport
- Transport and retrieval
This paper is from 2019, more than five years ago. Newer evidence may have been published since.
Summary
A four-centre UK pilot randomised controlled trial (FEVER) comparing permissive versus restrictive temperature thresholds for antipyretic intervention in emergency PICU admissions with suspected infection. It assessed feasibility, including recruitment with research without prior consent, protocol adherence and separation in maximum temperature between groups, alongside a mixed-methods study of staff and parent views. The permissive approach produced a modest increase in mean maximum temperature, with similar length of stay, organ support duration and mortality, and no pre-specified serious adverse events. The authors suggest a definitive trial should target the most seriously ill, invasively ventilated children.
Summary written for PICUlearn. Always read the original.
- Licence:
- Open (Creative Commons)
The full text of this openly licensed paper is available to PICUlearn members, and Peeky can answer questions from it.
Guidelines are shown for education. Follow your unit's own guidance and senior advice.