2nd August 2023

Work Up

Investigations, such as full blood count (leucocytosis vs eosinophilia), blood films, rapid molecular testing and CXR, will guide your diagnosis. Dental abscesses and infective endocarditis are uncommon causes of FUO but warrant further investigations, such as via an orthopantomogram and echocardiogram, respectively, if suspected.

Whilst blood cultures are useful in identifying bacterial septicaemia, they may miss the underlying cause. Note that it is important to exclude infective causes in a pyrexial and unwell patient despite negative blood cultures –consider Q fever, caused by the obligate intracellular bacterial pathogen Coxiella burnetii –a favoured question in exams!