Antibiotic Selection in the Treatment of Febrile Neutropenia: Current Approach and New Directions.
The combination of neutropenia and fever, with or without documented infection is a common complication in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. The prompt institution of empirical broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy for febrile neutropenic patients has been shown to reduce the rate of early death and morbidity in cancer populations undergoing chemotherapy. Three different regimens for consideration as initial empiric therapy are presented. Alternatives such as outpatient regimens to low risk patients and monotherapy are discussed. If confirmed prospectively, the results presented here may enable clinicians to identify low risk groups and treat neutropenia and fever with good results and better economic and psychological cost.
Stefani
SD
Division of Oncology of the Clinical Hospital of Porto Alegre.
Cadore
LP
Villaroel
RU
Azevedo
S
Machado
AL