Febrile Neutropenia
- PMID: 31082146
- Bookshelf ID: NBK541102
Febrile Neutropenia
Excerpt
Neutropenic fever is when there is a single oral temperature greater than or equal to 101 F (38.3 C) or a temperature greater than or equal to 100.4 F (38 C) for at least an hour, with an absolute neutrophilic count (ANC) of less than 1500 cells/microliter. In severe neutropenia, the ANC is less than 500 per microliter. In profound neutropenia, the ANC is less than 100 cells/microliter. The risk of bacteremia increases with profound neutropenia. To calculate ANC, multiply the total white blood cell (WBC) count by the percentage of polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) and band neutrophils.
ANC = WBC (cells/microL) x percent (PMNs + bands) / 100
Following hematological terms are commonly employed to classify abnormal neutrophil counts:
ANC <200 cells/microL: agranulocytosis
Neutropenia for > three months: chronic neutropenia
Neutropenia without associated anemia and/or thrombocytopenia: isolated neutropenia
Reduced number of neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils: granulocytopenia
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- Freifeld AG, Bow EJ, Sepkowitz KA, Boeckh MJ, Ito JI, Mullen CA, Raad II, Rolston KV, Young JA, Wingard JR, Infectious Diseases Society of America Clinical practice guideline for the use of antimicrobial agents in neutropenic patients with cancer: 2010 update by the infectious diseases society of america. Clin Infect Dis. 2011 Feb 15;52(4):e56-93. - PubMed
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- Rivera-Salgado D, Valverde-Muñoz K, Ávila-Agüero ML. [Febrile neutropenia in cancer patients: management in the emergency room]. Rev Chilena Infectol. 2018;35(1):62-71. - PubMed
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