Early empiric antibiotic therapy for febrile neutropenia patients at low risk.
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.
Rolston
K V
KV
Ambulatory and Supportive Care Oncology Research Program, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA.
Rubenstein
E B
EB
Freifeld
A
A
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
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D006133:Growth Substances