Nonspecific Symptoms Lack Diagnostic Accuracy for Infection in Older Patients in the Emergency Department

Objectives To determine if nonspecific symptoms and fever affect the posttest probability of acute bacterial infection in older patients in the emergency department (ED). Design Preplanned, secondary analysis of a prospective observational study. Setting Tertiary care, academic ED. Participants A total of 424 patients in the ED, 65 years or older, including all chief complaints. Measurements We identified presence of altered mental status,...