Table 1 Comparison of baseline characteristics of the patients during the pre-implementation and post-implementation period

Age, years

 < 0.001

 Mean ± SD

7.10 ± 5.08

6.45 ± 5.19

 Median (IQR)

6 (3–11)

5 (2–10)

Sex, male

0.924

 n (%)

1373 (52.6)

830 (52.8)

Pathogen identified by PCR

–

 n (%)

–

641 (40.8)

Laboratory findings

 WBC, /mm³

0.0007

  Mean ± SD

11.08 ± 4.85

10.53 ± 5.26

  Median(IQR)

10.11 (7.55, 13.74)

9.06 (6.76, 13.38)

 Hb, g/dL

 < 0.0001

  Mean ± SD

13.23 ± 1.19

12.94 ± 1.21

  Median(IQR)

13.20 (12.50, 13.90)

12.90 (12.20–13.60)

 PLT, /mm³

 < 0.0001

  Mean ± SD

290.35 ± 81.40

304.02 ± 86.29

  Median(IQR)

280 (238, 332)

292 (244, 351)

 CRP, mg/dL

0.6443

  Mean ± SD

1.38 ± 2.79

1.34 ± 3.01

  Median(IQR)

0.20 (0.04, 1.37)

0.12 (0.03, 1.06)

 BUN, mg/dL

 < 0.0001

  Mean ± SD

13.66 ± 4.45

12.75 ± 4.58

  Median(IQR)

13.30 (10.40, 16.50)

12.20 (9.60, 15.40)

 Cr, mg/dL

 < 0.0001

  Mean ± SD

0.47 ± 0.18

0.43 ± 0.18

  Median(IQR)

0.43 (0.33, 0.57)

0.40 (0.31, 0.52)

 AST, mg/dL

0.0003

  Mean ± SD

33.40 ± 32.53

30.62 ± 16.56

  Median(IQR)

30 (24, 38)

29 (21, 36)

 ALT, mg/dL

0.001

  Mean ± SD

20.51 ± 40.86

17.62 ± 14.14

  Median(IQR)

15 (12, 20)

14 (11, 20)

 Total bilirubin, mg/dL

 < 0.0001

  Mean ± SD

0.57 ± 0.33

0.43 ± 0.31

  Median(IQR)

0.49 (0.35, 0.68)

0.35 (0.23, 0.51)

 Na, mg/dL

 < 0.0001

  Mean ± SD

139.80 ± 2.46

137.59 ± 2.54

  Median(IQR)

140 (138, 141)

138 (136, 139)

 K, mg/dL

0.4855

  Mean ± SD

4.25 ± 0.42

4.24 ± 0.42

  Median(IQR)

4.2 (4.0, 4.5)

4.2 (4, 4.5)

 CL, mg/dL

 < 0.0001

  Mean ± SD

103.40 ± 2.82

102.75 ± 2.88

  Median(IQR)

104 (102, 105)

103 (101, 105)

 LDH, mg/dL

 < 0.0001

  Mean ± SD

568.08 ± 153.07

263.47 ± 70.48

  Median(IQR)

553 (471, 643)

258 (216, 298)