Empirical antimicrobial therapy with a single daily dose of ceftriaxone plus amikacin in febrile granulocytopenic patients: a pilot study.

The optimal management of fever in granulocytopenic patients remains controversial. This pilot study investigated the potential value of single daily doses of amikacin administered empirically with ceftriaxone in febrile granulocytopenic patients. None of the patients died as a result of infection or toxicity from the prescribed regimen. Serum concentrations failed to show drug accumulation. Modifications of empirical antimicrobial therapy were made at a similar rate to other conventional regimens. Vancomycin seemed to increase the incidence of nephrotoxicity. Overall, this pilot study suggests that empirical therapy with single daily doses of amikacin plus ceftriaxone is safe and effective and should be further investigated in a larger number of patients.