title: Early empiric antibiotic therapy for febrile neutropenia patients at low risk.
abstract: Although it is apparent that certain patients with febrile neutropenic episodes can benefit from outpatient antibiotic therapy, not all low-risk patients are treated in this fashion. There are barriers, real and perceived, to implementing this approach for patients, health care providers, and caregivers. Table 3 summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of ambulatory management of febrile neutropenic patients. For many patients and physicians, outpatient oral antibiotics may be preferred, whereas for others a more conservative approach might be needed in order to feel comfortable with treating this population on an outpatient basis. In this situation, patients can be treated in a stepwise fashion as shown in Table 4. These alternatives allow physicians and patients options to discuss when planning treatment strategies for febrile neutropenia.
authors.affiliation: Ambulatory and Supportive Care Oncology Research Program, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA.
authors.forename: K V
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Rolston
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Rubenstein
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Freifeld
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005334:Fever / Q000150:complications*; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007297:Inpatients; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010045:Outpatients; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D006133:Growth Substances