Brief Period Observation for patients with temperature or infections

Infectious diseases are a frequent reason for access to hospital Emergency Departments; they have a considerable economic and managerial impact and often require patient hospitalisation. Nevertheless, they are not amongst the illnesses most frequently destined to Brief Period Observation and the data available in literature is scarce. This article examines those infectious pathologies for which an observation period could be useful in avoiding improper hospitalisation or risky discharges; it also suggests diagnostic and treatment pathways and reports on the available scientific literature.