Karthaus M, Egerer G, Kullmann K H, Ritter J, Jürgens H
Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Dept. of Haematology and Oncology, Germany.
Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 1998 Jul;17(7):501-4. doi: 10.1007/BF01691133.
A study was performed in low-risk cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia to determine the safety and efficacy of ceftriaxone given in an outpatient setting. A total of 126 episodes of febrile neutropenia in 120 clinically stable outpatients were treated with intravenous ceftriaxone alone (n=100) or in combination with other antibiotics (n=26). The mean neutrophil count was 460/mm3; severe neutropenia (< 100/mm3) was observed in 18 episodes. The initial treatment with ceftriaxone (alone or in combination) was successful in 99 episodes (78%). Ninety-five episodes (76%) were successfully treated in an outpatient setting only; admission to hospital was necessary in 31 episodes (24%), but no infection-related death was observed. Ceftriaxone seems to be safe and effective for outpatient therapy of patients with low-risk febrile neutropenia.
