The fever index: A technic for evaluating the clinical response to bacteremia.

The fever index, quantitative measure of the total amount of fever in degree hours, was determined in obstetric-gynecologic patients with bacteremia. Comparison of the mean fever index between those women with hospital-or community-acquired infections, those patients monitored or not monitored during labor, or by grouping of single organisms recovered by culture revealed no significant differences. Bacteremia patients over the age of 40 had significantly more fever than those under the age of 40. Patients with postpartum with postpartum bacteremia following cesarean section had a mean fever index significantly greater than women who had vaginal delivery. The implications of these findings are discussed.