LACK OF ABILITY OF CIPROFLOXACIN-RIFAMPIN PROPHYLAXIS TO DECREASE INFECTION-RELATED MORBIDITY IN NEUTROPENIC PATIENTS GIVEN CYTOTOXIC THERAPY AND PERIPHERAL-BLOOD STEM-CELL TRANSPLANTS

We compared ciprofloxacin alone with ciprofloxacin plus rifampin (C R) as a prophylactic antibacterial regimen for 40 patients with solid tumors treated with high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell tr ansplantation support. No differences were found between groups in the time elapsed to the onset of fever, incidence of febrile episodes, am photericin B use, and length of hospital stay. However, C + R combinat ion prophylaxis significantly reduced the incidence of gram positive b acteremia (five versus zero episodes) but was associated with a higher incidence of drug-related side effects.