The Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Is Examining a 2­month­old

The primary care pediatric nurse practitioner is examining a 2­month­old infant
with fever and cough. A WBC is 14,000/mm3 and a chest radiograph is normal. The infant is nursing well and having normal stools. What would be an appropriate next step?

A) Admitting the infant to the hospital for LP and IV antibiotics
B) Obtaining a blood culture, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C­reactive protein
C) Performing a catheterized urinalysis to screen for leukocytes and nitrites
D) Prescribing empiric, broad­spectrum antibiotics with close follow­up