Substantial improvements have occurred in the management of infectious disease in patients with cancer. It is now unusual for patients with acute leukemia who receive their initial induction chemotherapy at a major center to die of infectious complications. Many patients will undergo further therapy that leads to prolonged periods of neutropenia without succumbing to a major infectious complication. However, managing infections in neutropenic patients remains a dynamic process, affected by the appearance of new pathogens, the emergence of antibiotic-resistant organisms, and the improved stratification of patients' infection risk. All of these factors have fostered new treatment approaches. These NCCN clinical guidelines address many of the day-to-day issues inherent in managing fever and neutropenia.
For the most recent version of the guidelines, please visit NCCN.org
