Treatment With Oral Antibiotics Of Febrile Neutropenia In Onco-Haematology - The Experience Of The Eortc Anti-Microbial Group

The context Up until the nineties, the intravenous administration of a broad spectrum antibiotic was the classical treatment of any patient presenting with febrile neutropenia. Since then, in patients considered at low risk and with expected of neutropenia less than 7-10 days, oral antibiotherapy has become an attractive option.Two large studies A study by the antimicrobial group of the EORTC (European organisation for research and treatment of cancer) and a North American study have compared the efficacy of an oral combination of ciprofloxacine and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid with that of an intravenous antibiotherapy in low-risk patients presenting febrile neutropenia. in both studies, the success rate was the same in the group of patients treated with oral antibiotics and those treated with intravenous antibiotics.Reservations These two studies were conducted in hospitalised patients. No conclusions can be drawn with regard to out-patient treatment. Out-patient management would only be possible after appropriate selection of patients at low risk. (C) 2004, Masson, Paris.