cefepime and Agranulocytosis

There exists few pediatric data on the safety and efficacy of prophylactic antibiotics during chemotherapy-induced agranulocytosis.. We prospectively studied the incidence of infection-related fever in 38 children, aged 2-16 years, with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) over 121 chemotherapy treatment cycles. A prophylactic group (n = 18) was given either vancomycin/cefepime (400 mg/m(2), q12 h/50 mg/kg, q12 h) or piperacillin/tazobactam (110 mg/kg, q12 h). Control patients (n = 20) received no preventive antibiotics.. The prophylactic group (59 treatment cycles) experienced fever less frequently than the control group (0.4 vs. 0.9 events; p < 0.001), had a longer interval between agranulocytosis and fever (6.4 vs. 3.8 days; p = 0.007), had a shorter duration of hospitalization (21.5 vs. 28.5 days; p < 0.001), and had a lower rate of lung infection (38.8 vs. 80.0%; p < 0.001). One patient taking vancomycin experienced a skin rash and 3 patients taking piperacillin/tazobactam had diarrhea; these side effects subsided after antibiotics were discontinued.. In children with AML, prophylactic antibiotics during the period of chemotherapy-induced agranulocytosis can effectively reduce the incidence of infectious fever and can shorten the average length of hospital stay, improving treatment success and quality of life.

Topics: Adolescent; Agranulocytosis; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Cefepime; Cephalosporins; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Fever; Humans; Infection Control; Length of Stay; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute; Male; Penicillanic Acid; Piperacillin; Piperacillin, Tazobactam Drug Combination; Prospective Studies; Vancomycin

In a pilot study, we evaluated the efficacy and the safety of cefepime, a new cephalosporin with extended-spectrum activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, as empirical monotherapy for 108 febrile episodes in 84 granulocytopenic cancer patients. Cefepime (2 g tds) was given for a minimum of 7 days or until resolution of infection. Of the 108 episodes, 91 were evaluable. Microbiologically documented infections occurred in 25 patients (27%) (18 Gram-positive, 7 Gram-negative), of whom 18 had bacteraemia. Infection was clinically documented in 47 patients (52%) and fever was unexplained in 19 (21%). Overall, 71% (65/91) of the infections resolved. Response rates were 86% (6/7) for Gram-negative infections, 44% (8/18) for Gram-positive infections (57% for cefepime-susceptible Gram-positive bacteria), 77% (36/47) for clinically documented infections and 79% (15/19) for unexplained fevers. Of the 26 patients (29%) whose primary infections did not improve with cefepime monotherapy, 23 responded after the addition of other antibiotics. Sixteen patients (18%) developed secondary infections of which 13 were microbiologically documented; Gram-positive bacteria were isolated from seven patients, Gram-negative bacteria from two, fungi from three and a virus from one. Adverse effects were mild and did not require premature discontinuation of therapy except for one patient who developed an immediate allergic reaction after the first dose of cefepime from which he recovered fully. The survival rate after resolution of granulocytopenia was 96%; three patients died of primary bacterial infection and one from secondary disseminated candidiasis. In this pilot study, cefepime monotherapy appeared safe and effective as empirical therapy for fever in cancer patients with granulocytopenia. Whether cefepime is superior to other advanced-generation cephalosporins for the treatment of Gram-positive infections will require evaluation in a larger comparative study.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Agranulocytosis; Bacterial Infections; Cefepime; Cephalosporins; Female; Fever; Humans; Leukocyte Count; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasms; Pilot Projects; Prospective Studies

Fatal Outcome of Agranulocytosis after Re-Exposure to Metamizole and Cefepime-Induced Encephalopathy

Topics: Aged, 80 and over; Agranulocytosis; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Brain Diseases; Cefepime; Dipyrone; Fatal Outcome; Female; Humans

Phenytoin, one of the most common antiepileptic drugs, is a major cause of antiepileptic drug hypersensitivity syndrome (AHS), which is a rare but potentially fatal complication. We herein report a 5-year-old boy who developed unexpected agranulocytosis with fever approximately one week after recovering from the typical symptoms of AHS, characterized by fever, rash, lymphadenopathy, and hepatitis, but lacking eosinophilia or lymphocytosis. High-dose steroid therapy for the former symptoms of AHS, and immunoglobulin, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, and cefepime for the latter agranulocytosis were successfully performed. This unexpected progression from AHS to agranulocytosis shortly after recovering from the former should be recognized as another risk of AHS, possibly leading to a life-threatening condition.

Topics: Agranulocytosis; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anticonvulsants; Cefepime; Cephalosporins; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury; Child, Preschool; Disease Progression; Drug Hypersensitivity; Epilepsy; Exanthema; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; Humans; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; Immunosuppressive Agents; Lymphatic Diseases; Male; Phenytoin; Risk Factors; Steroids; Treatment Outcome

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) is an acute infection of Aspergillus species to the lungs. It generally occurs in immunocompromised hosts, especially with neutropenia. We report a 30-year-old puerperant, who developed IPA from agranulocytosis. She had been treated for threatened labor with ritodrine and cefepime, one of which induced agranulocytosis. After vaginal delivery of twins, pneumonia emerged in the right lower lobe. She was diagnosed to have IPA according to the halo sign on computed tomography (CT) and positive circulating antibody against Aspergillus, and was treated successfully with oral itraconazole followed by surgical resection. It is important to note that IPA might arise in otherwise immunocompetent hosts when neutropenia is long-standing.

Topics: Adult; Agranulocytosis; Aspergillosis; Aspergillus fumigatus; Cefepime; Cephalosporins; Female; Humans; Lung Diseases, Fungal; Pregnancy; Puerperal Infection; Ritodrine; Severity of Illness Index; Tocolytic Agents