[Correlation of fever to infection in patients with chemotherapy-induced neutropenia].
OBJECTIVE
The cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced neutropenia often suffer from fever and infection, but current opinions on the correlation of the fever to infection are controversial. This study aimed to investigate the incidence and correlation of fever and infection in cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced neutropenia.


METHODS
Clinical data of 256 in-patients with chemotherapy-induced neutropenia from Jan. to Jul. 2007 were analyzed. The occurrence of fever and infection in these patients were analyzed by using descriptive analysis and agreement test.


RESULTS
Of the 256 patients, 100 (39.1%) suffered from fever, and 42 (16.4%) experienced infection. The temperature of febrile patients was (39.0+/-0.64)celsius. The main sites of infection were the pharynx (42.9%), oral cavity (21.4%) and low respiratory tract (14.3%). The consistency rate was 0.75 between fever and infection (Kappa=0.414, P<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of fever and infection in cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced neutropenia are high with a moderate agreement between fever and infection.
Ruan
Yan-Ping
YP
Hospital Infection Control Department, Zhejiang Provincial Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P. R. China. ruaning369@126.com
Zhang
Wen-Ying
WY
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001831:Body Temperature; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications; D055815:Young Adult