title: [Prophylaxis against infections in neutropenic patients].
abstract: Infections are the main cause of death in neutropenic patients and are related to the degree and duration of neutropenia, the underlying disease, and the treatments received. To reduce the number of these infections, prophylactic strategies have been proposed. These strategies aim to prevent adquisition through contact, inhalation, or the gastrointestinal tract. Intestinal decontamination through fluoroquinolones has reduced Gram-negative infections but this strategy should not be used indiscriminately and should be reserved for high risk patients. Fluconazole as antifungal prophylaxis reduces mortality but does not modify the incidence of invasive aspergillosis. Cytomegalovirus infection should be prevented in patients with negative serology; in high risk patients with positive serology, monitoring and preemptive treatment with ganciclovir or foscarnet is recommended. Hematopoietic growth factors reduce the duration of neutropenia and could reduce mortality from infection.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Trasplante Hematopoyético, Servicio de Hematología, Hospital Clínic, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Uriburu
authors.forename: Montserrat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rovira
mesh_terms: D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D009894:Opportunistic Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor