Onkológia 5/2007

ANTIBACTERIAL PROPHYLAXIS IN NEUTROPENIC CANCER PATIENTS

Febrile neutropenia and bacterial infections are the frequent complications of anticancer treatment. Antibacterial prophylaxis is one of the efficacious forms of prevention. Administration of quinolones in prophylaxis is safe and accessible for the risk population of patients. The recent clinical trials have confirmed the positive impact on incidence of febrile episodes and documented bacterial infections, metaanalyses have even shown the decrease in mortality of patients using prophylaxis. This article is reconsidering the role of antibacterial prophylaxis in context with the risk of patient, pathogen resistance and cost. The risk/benefit ratio should be analyzed individually.

Keywords: febrile neutropenia, antibacterial prophylaxis