Empiric antimicrobial therapy for febrile granulocytopenic cancer patients. Lessons from four EORTC trials.

The experience from four EORTC trials on antimicrobial therapy for febrile granulocytopenic cancer patients (GCP) is reviewed. A general conclusion from these trials is that studies of the management of infection in GCP should include sufficient numbers of eligible patients to allow for evaluation of bacteremic patients at highest risk of death. The need for large collaborative studies stems directly from these considerations.