Safety of discharge for children with cancer and febrile neutropenia off antibiotics using absolute neutrophil count threshold values as a surrogate marker for adequate bone marrow recovery.

ABSTRACT: Febrile neutropenia (F&N) is common among pediatric oncology patients. However, there is a lack of clarity regarding parameters whereby such patients have demonstrated adequate bone marrow recovery for hospital discharge and empiric antibiotic discontinuation. A retrospective review was performed for 350 episodes of F&N occurring at a single institution between 2007 and 2012 in pediatric oncology patients who were afebrile for 24 hr and had no bacterial source identified. Seven-day postdischarge outcomes were assessed and compared based on absolute neutrophil count (ANC) at discharge in order to identify an optimal threshold. Overall, 7-day readmission rates were low (17/350, 4.6%), with patients discharged with post-nadir ANC of 100-199/μl (2/51, 3.9%), 200-499/μl (5/125, 4.0%), and ≥500/

SUBMITTER: Campbell ME 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6628262 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature