Box 1 Indications for blood culture sampling as advertised in the wards [4]

1. Fever (axillary T° ≥ 38 °C) OR hypothermia (axillary T° ≤ 36 °C)

2. AND one of the following signs of severity

  A. Hypotension (systolic blood pressure ≤ 100 mmHg)

  B. Confusion

  C. Increased respiratory rate (≥ 22/min)

  D. Suspicion of severe localized infection

    a. Pneumonia

    b. Meningitis

    c. Osteomyelitis

    d. Complicated urinary tract infection

    e. Abscess

    f. Skin or soft tissue infection

    g. Abdominal infection

  E. Suspicion of other severe infection

    a. Severe malaria

    b. Typhoid fever

    c. Other

  F. Neonatal infection