This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Shenep, J. L. Articles by Marina, N. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Shenep, J. L. Articles by Marina, N. M. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

lnfrared, Thermistor, and Glass-Mercury Thermometry for Measurement of Body Temperature in Children With Cancer

Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 332 North Lauderdale, Memphis, TN 38101-0318

Janet R. Adair, CPNP

Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Walter T. Hughes, MD

Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee College of Medicine, Memphis, Tennessee

Paula K. Roberson, PhD

Division of Biostatistics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Patricia M. Flynn, MD

Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee College of Medicine, Memphis, Tennessee

Terri O. Brodkey, RRA

Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Glenda H. Fullen, FNP

Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Wren T. Kennedy, PNP

Department of Infectious Diseases, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Linda L. Oakes, RN

Department of Nursing, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Neyssa M. Marina, MD

Department of Hematology-Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Body temperature is often the sole determinant of whether or not the neutropenic cancer patient is admitted to the hospital for empiric antibiotic therapy. Recently developed infrared tympanic thermometers offer rapid readings, but their accuracy has not been established. We studied two infrared thermometers (FirstTemp@ and Thermoscan@) and a thermistor (IVAC®) in children with cancer. Mean infrared measurements did not differ significantly between right and left ear canals, and the mean IVAC® temperature did not differ significantly from the left to the right axilla (P > 0.05, paired t test). IVAC® predictive mode mean temperature was 0.2°C lower than monitor mode mean temperature in the axilla (P < 0.0001), but 0.1 °C higher than monitor mode orally (P < 0.0001). Aiming the infrared instrument at the tympanic membrane using an ear tug resulted in a 0.2°C higher mean temperature than casual placement in the ear canal (P < 0.0001). After compensation for the mean difference in reference oral glass-mercury versus test instrument temperatures, the FirstTemp®, Thermoscan®, and oral and axillary predictive mode IVAC® measurements yielded sensitivities for the detection of fever of 84%, 84%, 82%, and 86%; specificities of 100%, 99%, 100%, and 100%; positive predictive values of 100%, 93%, 100%, and 100%; and negative predictive values of 95%, 98%, 98%, and 98%, respectively. We conclude that each of these instruments detects fever with comparable reliability. Infrared instruments are especially attractive alternatives due to their time efficiency.

Clinical Pediatrics, Vol. 30, No. 4 suppl, 36-41 (1991)
DOI: 10.1177/000992289103000411


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				W. T. Boyce, J. D. Higley, J. J. Jemerin, M. Champoux, and S. J. Suomi Tympanic Temperature Asymmetry and Stress Behavior in Rhesus Macaques and Children Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, May 1, 1996; 150(5): 518 - 523. [Abstract] [PDF]