Medical and pediatric oncology
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Med. Pediatr. Oncol. · Nov 2003
Comparative StudyIdentification of children presenting with fever in chemotherapy-induced neutropenia at low risk for severe bacterial infection.
Febrile neutropenia (FN) remains a frequent complication in pediatric oncology, requiring emergency hospitalization and empirical broad spectrum antibiotics. The distinction of patients at high versus low risk for severe bacterial infection (SBI) is not fully established. The purpose of this study was to define a rule predicting the risk to develop SBI in children and adolescents with FN, based on information accessible at presentation. ⋯ Combining selected information accessible at presentation, SBI in FN can be predicted with clinically useful specificity maintaining very high sensitivity. Induction therapy and absence of clinical signs of viral infection were identified as new predictors of SBI. The results of this study need confirmation and refinement in prospective studies, aiming at more selective management of FN in pediatric oncology.