학술논문

Discontinuation of antimicrobial therapy in adult neutropenic haematology patients: A prospective cohort.
Document Type
Article
Source
International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents. Jun2019, Vol. 53 Issue 6, p781-788. 8p.
Subject
*HEMATOLOGY
*FEBRILE neutropenia
*GRAFT versus host disease
*RUBELLA
*ANTIBIOTICS
Language
ISSN
0924-8579
Abstract
• Antibiotics can be discontinued in neutropenic haematology patients. • Discontinuation of antibiotics in this population is safe and results in significant antibiotic sparing. • This strategy does not lead to severe infectious episodes or excessive mortality. • Overall, 287 antibiotics days were spared; this represents 49% of our consumption. Antibiotics for febrile neutropenia (FN) in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) patients undergoing intensive chemotherapy are usually maintained until neutropenia resolution, because of the risk of uncontrolled sepsis in this vulnerable population. This leads to unnecessarily prolonged antimicrobial therapy. Based on ECIL-4 recommendations, we modified our management strategy and discontinued antibiotics after a pre-established duration in patients treated for a first episode of FN between August 2014 and October 2017. Antibiotics were stopped during 62 FN episodes, and maintained in the control group (n = 13). Median age of patients was 54 years. A total of 39 (63%) patients received induction and 23 (37%) consolidation chemotherapy; 36 (58%) patients had fever of unknown origin. Median neutropenia length was 26 days (IQR 24–30). Antibiotics were started at day 9 (IQR 5–13). Most patients received piperacillin-tazobactam (56%) or cefepime (32%). Antimicrobial therapy was longer in the control group than in the policy compliant group, 10 (IQR 7–16) vs. 19 days (IQR 15–23), P = 0.0001. After antibiotics discontinuation, 20% patients experienced fever recurrence, within 5.5 days (IQR 3–7.5). None of these febrile episodes were severe and 80% patients remained afebrile, with neutrophil recovery occurring within 5 days (IQR 2–8.5). Overall, 287 antibiotics days were spared; this represents 49% of all days with antibiotics. No patient had died at day 30 from intervention; six died during late follow-up, two from graft-versus-host disease and four from relapsed or refractory leukaemia. Discontinuing antibiotics in neutropenic AML patients treated for a first episode of FN is safe, and results in significant antibiotic sparing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]