OUTPATIENT MANAGEMENT OF FEVER IN NEUTROPENIC PATIENTS

Standard management of the febrile neutropenic patient consists of the administration of broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents after appropria te evaluation. This is generally done within the confines of a hospita l ward in order to maximize supportive care, and to detect and deal wi th complications such as septic shock or superinfection as promptly as possible, Not all febrile neutropenic patients have the same risk for developing complications. Recently, developed risk assessment strateg ies can help identify 'low-risk' patients at the onset of febrile epis odes. These low-risk patients can be treated in the outpatient setting using parenteral, sequential, or oral antimicrobial regimens, resulti ng in a dramatic reduction in the cost of therapy, better resource uti lization, and greater patient satisfaction as a result of an enhanced quality of life.