[High risk febrile neutropenia in acute leukemia. The experience of a public hospital. National Program of Antineoplastic Drugs in Adult, Hospital del Salvador, 1991-2001]

BACKGROUND

Febrile neutropenia is one of the most important problems to face during the treatment of acute leukemia.

AIM

To assess the results of a standardized protocol for the treatment of febrile neutropenia and compare it with a period in which treatment was not standardized.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

One hundred and eight episodes of febrile neutropenia in 69 patients, treated with a standardized antimicrobial protocol between 1996 and 2001, were analyzed. The protocol consisted in the use of a combination of antimicrobial whose spectrum was broadened progressively according to the isolated microorganisms and the involved foci. These were compared with 83 episodes in 54 patients, treated without standardized protocols between 1990 and 1995.

RESULTS

Both groups of patients were comparable. Their ages ranged from 15 to 65 years old. The male/female ratio was 1.3 and the lymphoblastic/myeloid leukemia ratio was 1.4. Sixty one percent of episodes occurred during induction chemotherapy and mean duration of neutropenia was 17 days. A clinically significant focus was identified in 72% of episodes and a microorganism was isolated blood culture in 35% of them. There was a predominance of gram negative organisms. The mortality decreased from 18 to 9% in the period 1996-2000 (p = 0.094).

CONCLUSIONS

The use of a standardized antimicrobial protocol reduced the mortality in febrile neutropenia, even when colony stimulating factors and filtered air rooms are unavailable.