Management of fever in neutropenic patients with cancer

During the last decade, significant advancements have been made in supportive care of neutropenic patients with cancer, including broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents and hematopoietic growth factors. Despite these achievements, infection continues to be the major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with cancer because of alterations of normal host defenses. Because infection in patients with immunocompromised cancer is a potentially life-threatening situation, it is imperative that clinicians have optimal knowledge of therapeutic interventions directed toward the prevention, detection, and treatment of infection. Furthermore, the clinician should have basic knowledge about the pathophysiology of febrile neutropenia.