title: Timing of initial antibiotic treatment for febrile neutropenia in the emergency department: the need for evidence-based guidelines.
abstract: Guidelines for the treatment of febrile neutropenia (FN) universally recommend the prompt initiation (<60 minutes) of antibiotic therapy for patients with this complication presenting to medical settings. Unfortunately, administration delays exist in emergency departments where patients with FN frequently seek care. Future guidelines should be based on investigations that clearly indicate the effectiveness of rapid antibiotic therapy. If definitive investigations identify an optimal time period for the initial administration of antibiotics for patients with FN, administrative efforts will be developed to improve the emergency department care of these critically ill patients with cancer.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Emergency Medicine, Department of Preventive Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois. From the Department of Emergency Medicine, Department of Preventive Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Demetrios N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Kyriacou
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Emergency Medicine, Department of Preventive Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Borko
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jovanovic
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Emergency Medicine, Department of Preventive Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois. From the Department of Emergency Medicine, Department of Preventive Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Frankfurt
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D064147:Febrile Neutropenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents