Outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy for fever and neutropenia

The treatment of fever and neutropenia following chemotherapy lends itself well to outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT). Patients prefer to be at home rather than hospitalized again. There is a clear cost advant age of outpatient therapy. With a quality program and careful patient selec tion, OPAT can be provided effectively and safely. The chances of an infect ion due to resistant bacteria also appear to be reduced. There are an incre asing number of studies that support the use of empiric antibiotic therapy for the first fever in neutropenic patients. The choice of antimicrobial, d ose, as well as vascular access and infusion devices must be tailored to th e individual patient needs and circumstances.