Identifying Risk Factors and Improving Preventive Strategies for Febrile Neutropenia in Children with Leukemia Receiving Ciprofloxacin Prophylaxis.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors and improve preventive strategies for febrile neutropenia (FEN) in children with leukemia who were receiving ciprofloxacin prophylaxis. The study included 100 children with leukemia (n=80 with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and n=20 with acute myeloblastic leukemia) (AML). Patients were divided into two groups based on whether they had three or fewer three FEN episodes [Group 1] or more than three FEN episodes [Group 2]. Group 1 had 63 (63%) of the 100 patients, while Group 2 had 37 (37%). Older age (≥7 years), leukemia type (AML), prolonged neutropenia (>10 days), the presence of neutropenia, and hypogammaglobulinemia at diagnosis were all risk factors for more than three FEN episodes. Our findings suggest that, in addition to ciprofloxacin prophylaxis, identifying risk factors and improving preventive strategies could help reduce FEN in children with leukemia.