Fevers of nosocomial origin.

A fever of nosocomial origin is defined as one which develops three or more days after a patient has been admitted to the hospital. It occurs in four patient groups: (1) those incubating an infection on admission; (2) those whose fever is related to an underlying, non-infectious disease; (3) those who develop an endogenous febrile process; and (4) those who acquire an infection of other febrile process. Diagnostic considerations are reviewed for eight major classes of fevers of nosocomial origin. Special attention must be paid to empiric therapy and pathogens in the immunocompromised host.