Ceftriaxone in the outpatient treatment of cancer patients with fever and neutropenia.
A study was performed in low-risk cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia to determine the safety and efficacy of ceftriaxone given in an outpatient setting. A total of 126 episodes of febrile neutropenia in 120 clinically stable outpatients were treated with intravenous ceftriaxone alone (n=100) or in combination with other antibiotics (n=26). The mean neutrophil count was 460/mm3; severe neutropenia (< 100/mm3) was observed in 18 episodes. The initial treatment with ceftriaxone (alone or in combination) was successful in 99 episodes (78%). Ninety-five episodes (76%) were successfully treated in an outpatient setting only; admission to hospital was necessary in 31 episodes (24%), but no infection-related death was observed. Ceftriaxone seems to be safe and effective for outpatient therapy of patients with low-risk febrile neutropenia.
Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Dept. of Haematology and Oncology, Germany.
M
M
Karthaus
G
G
Egerer
K H
KH
Kullmann
J
J
Ritter
H
H
Jürgens
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D002443:Ceftriaxone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies
D002511:Cephalosporins; D002443:Ceftriaxone