[Prevention and therapy of infections in tumor patients].
The neutropenic patient with fever remains a great challenge. Because of the high risk of life-threatening bacterial infections, all febrile neutropenic patients should be treated with broad-spectrum bactericidal antibiotics promptly by the intravenous route and in maximal therapeutic dosages. Although the currently available diagnostic tests are not sufficiently rapid, sensitive, or specific for identifying or excluding the microbial cause of a febrile episode, a careful diagnostic work-up should be done. The concern about the problem of emerging drug resistance bacteria due to extensive antibiotic use, plus the fact that such prophylaxis has not been shown to reduce mortality rates, led to the recommendation that routine prophylaxis with these antibiotics in neutropenic patients be avoided. Vaccination should be emphasized in these patients.
Burgmann
H
H
Klinische Abteilung für Infektionen und Chemotherapie, Universitätsklinik für Innere Medizin I, Währinger Gürtel 18-20, A-1090 Wien. heinz.burgmann@akh-wien.ac.at
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005335:Fever of Unknown Origin / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000276:immunology; D007938:Leukemia / Q000276:immunology*; D009181:Mycoses / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014611:Vaccination; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D000998:Antiviral Agents