title: Piperacillin-tazobactam as empiric monotherapy in febrile neutropenic patients with haematological malignancies.
abstract: The efficacy of piperacillin-tazobactam as first line empiric therapy was assessed in 54 febrile neutropenic episodes in 42 patients (27 male, 15 female) with haematological malignancy. Nineteen (35%) episodes were bacteraemias (15 Gram-positive, 4 Gram-negative), 5 (9%) were clinically documented (Hickman line sites) and 30 (56%) were pyrexias of unknown origin. Study therapy was initiated after a median of 4 days of neutropenia (range 1-30). Eighteen (33%) episodes responded to piperacillin-tazobactam without a need for treatment modification. Four (7%) episodes initially responded to piperacillin-tazobactam but required treatment modification for fungal superinfection. Of the 19 bacteraemias, 6 (32%) were eradicated or presumed eradicated by piperacillin-tazobactam. Of the 32 (60%) episodes which failed to respond to piperacillin-tazobactam, 11 (34%) responded to anti-fungal therapy; 14 (44%) responded to a glycopeptide and 5 (16%) responded to a second-line broad spectrum antibacterial agent. Two (6%) patients died, both in the presence of progressive malignancy. There was no significant toxicity associated with piperacillin-tazobactam. We conclude that piperacillin-tazobactam is effective as empiric monotherapy in neutropenic fever and may reduce the requirement for glycopeptides.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel, UK.
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Hazel
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Dickinson
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Newland
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kelsey
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010397:Penicillanic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010878:Piperacillin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077725:Piperacillin, Tazobactam Drug Combination; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D065093:beta-Lactamase Inhibitors
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D065093:beta-Lactamase Inhibitors; D000077725:Piperacillin, Tazobactam Drug Combination; D010397:Penicillanic Acid; D010878:Piperacillin