FEBRIL NEUTROPENIA IN PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY

From May 1994 to February 1996, 40 children with leukemia / lymphoma and 18 children with solid tumors, 34 males and 24 females (ranging in age from 10 months to 14.5 years) had neutropenia on 115 occasions. The patients received one of three empirical antibiotic regimens: A: piperacillin + ceftinazolin + netilmicin; B: cefoperazone/sulbactam + netilmicin; C: imipenem/cilastan. Microbiologically documented infections occurred in 56 episodes (48.6%). Frequency of gram negative and positive bacteria isolated were being the most frequent G (-) pathogens. Blood cultures were positive in 24 episodes (20.8%) in 15 which (62.5%) the causative organism was G (+), primarily S. epidermidis and S. aureus. There were 5 cases of infection related deaths, three due to G (-) bacteremia (P.aeruginosa and E.coli) and one due to systemic Candida infection.