Three-day treatment with imipenem for unexplained fever during prolonged neutropaenia in haematology patients receiving fluoroquinolone and fluconazole prophylaxis: A prospective observational safety study

Background: Guidelines advocate >7 d of broad-spectrum antibiotics for unexplained fever (UF) during neutropaenia. However, effective antimicrobial prophylaxis reduces the incidence of gram-negative infections, which may allow shorter treatment. This study evaluates the safety of discontinuing empirical broad-spectrum antibiotics if no microbial source is documented after an initial work-up of 72 h. Methods: Prospective observational study at a tertiary-care haematology-unit in patients suffering from haematologic malignancies and treatment-induced prolonged neutropaenia of ≥10 d. Oral fluoroquinolone and fluconazole prophylaxis was given from day 1. Fever was empirically treated with imipenem which was discontinued after 72 h if, following a standardised protocol, no infectious aetiology was documented. Duration of fever, antimicrobial therapy and overall mortality were registered. Results: One hundred and sixty six patients were evaluated during 276 neutropaenic episodes. One hundred and thirty six patients (82.5%) experienced ≥1 febrile episode. A total of 317 febrile episodes were observed, of which 177 (56%) were diagnosed as UF. In 135 febrile episodes (43%), a probable/definite infectious origin was documented. Mean duration of fever in neutropaenic periods with 1 febrile episode was 5 d, and mean time of treatment with imipenem was 4.7 d. In patients without documented infection, mean time of imipenem treatment was only 3.7 d. Overall mortality 30 d after neutrophil recovery was 3.6% (6/166); no patient died from untreated bacterial infection. Conclusion: Discontinuation of broad-spectrum antibiotics during neutropaenia in haematology patients on fluoroquinolone and fluconazole prophylaxis is safe, provided that no infectious aetiology is established after 72 h.

• View at Publisher
• View at Pubmed
• View at Scopus
• View at Web of Science