Infections under chemotherapy

Chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia makes the immuncompromized cancer patient even more susceptible to severe infections. The risk of infections correlates with grade and duration of febrile neutropenia. Empiric antibiot ic treatment can diminish the high infection-associated mortality, There ar e guidelines for antimicrobial treatment and modifications of therapy. To i ndividualize therapy decisions, it is helpful to characterize high- and low -risk patients. Antibiotic prophylaxis in afebrile neutropenic patients is only indicated in special cases. Use of G-CSF for prophylaxis of neutropeni a can be recommended for high-risk patients, bur it should nor be used far the treatment of infection.