Multinational Association Of Supportive Care In Cancer Research Articles

Editorial introductions

Editorial introductions

Application of the MASCC and CISNE Risk-Stratification Scores to Identify Low-Risk Febrile Neutropenic Patients in the Emergency Department

Although validated risk-stratification tools have been used to send low-risk febrile neutropenic patients home from clinic and inpatient settings, there is a dearth of research evaluating these scores in the emergency department (ED). We compare the predictive accuracy of the Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) and Clinical Index of Stable Febrile Neutropenia (CISNE) scores for patients with chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia and presenting to the ED. We conducted a retrospective cohort study to evaluate all patients with febrile neutropenia (temperature ≥38°C [100.4°F], absolute neutrophil count <1,000 cells/μL) who presented to 2 academic EDs from June 2012 through January 2015. MASCC and CISNE scores were calculated for all subjects, and each visit was evaluated for several outcome variables, including inpatient length of stay, upgrade in level of care, clinical deterioration, positive blood culture results, and death. Descriptive statistics are reported and continuous variables were analyzed with Wilcoxon rank sum. During our study period, 230 patients presented with chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia. The CISNE score identified 53 (23%) of these patients as low risk and was highly specific in the identification of a low-risk cohort for all outcome variables (98.3% specific, 95% confidence interval [CI] 89.7% to 99.9%; positive predictive value 98.1%, 95% CI 88.6% to 99.9%). Median length of stay was shorter for low-risk versus high-risk CISNE patients (3-day difference; P<.001). The MASCC score was much less specific (54.2%; 95% CI 40.8% to 67.1%) in the identification of a low-risk cohort. Our results suggest that the CISNE score may be the most appropriate febrile neutropenia risk-stratification tool for use in the ED.

2016 Updated MASCC/ESMO Consensus Recommendations: Controlling nausea and vomiting with chemotherapy of low or minimal emetic potential.

The purpose of this review is to update the MASCC (Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer) guidelines for controlling nausea and vomiting with chemotherapy of low or minimal emetic potential. The antiemetic study group of MASCC met in Copenhagen in 2015 to review the MASCC antiemetic guidelines. A subgroup performed a systematic literature review on antiemetics for low emetogenic chemotherapy (LEC) and chemotherapy of minimal emetic potential and the chair presented the update recommendation to the whole group for discussion. They then voted with an aim of achieving 67% or greater consensus. For patients receiving low emetogenic chemotherapy, a single antiemetic such as dexamethasone, a 5HT3 receptor antagonist, or a dopamine receptor antagonist may be considered for prophylaxis of acute emesis. For patients receiving chemotherapy of minimal emetogenicity, no antiemetic should be routinely administered. If patients vomit, they should be treated as for chemotherapy of low emetic potential. No antiemetic should be administered for prevention of delayed nausea and vomiting induced by low or minimally emetogenic chemotherapy. More research is needed to determine the incidence of emesis, particularly delayed emesis, in the LEC group. Prospective studies are required to evaluate antiemetic strategies. The risk of emesis within LEC may be more accurately determined by adding the patient risk factors for emesis to those of the chemotherapy drugs. Improved strategies for promoting adherence to guidelines are required.

Infections in Cancer Patients

Infection is a common complication in cancer patients who receive cytotoxic chemotherapy and other targeted therapies. A clear understanding of the underlying host risk factors, the immunologic effects of specific cancer therapies, and the anatomic location of the tumor and its impact on surrounding structures helps predict the types of infection to which the host is most vulnerable. This review covers fever in the setting of neutropenia, infection risk with biological and targeted cancer therapy, and infections in patients with solid tumors. Figures show risk for fever and neutropenia, and empirical antibiotic algorithm for initial management of febrile neutropenia in patients at high risk for complications, radiographic findings associated with invasive fungal disease, a schematic of hepatitis B virus infection and reactivation after anti-CD20 therapy, and management of nonpurulent cellulitis in cancer patients. Tables list the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) risk index score, the Clinical Index of Stable Febrile Neutropenia (CISNE) scoring system, common bacterial pathogens that cause infection in neutropenic patients, assessment of specific signs and symptoms during febrile neutropenia, empirical antibiotic management of febrile neutropenia, criteria for addition of vancomycin to empirical antibiotic regimen for febrile neutropenia, and biological and targeted agents commonly used to treat hematologic malignancy and associated infections. This review contains 5 highly rendered figures, 7 tables, and 107 references

Supportive care in older adults with cancer - An update of research in 2015.

The motto of the Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) is "supportive care makes excellent cancer care possible". This is especially important in the care of older adults with cancer. The use of geriatric assessment in this patient population enables targeted supportive care interventions to work alongside appropriate anticancer therapy. It is the opinion of this author that geriatric oncology is mostly about the provision of streamlined, appropriate supportive care. There are many facets of supportive care of patients with cancer that are important regardless of age. These include issues such as the use of appropriate antiemetics, infection management, oral health, nutritional intervention, psychosocial care, and palliative care. This article provides an update on novel yet important supportive care research specifically in older adults with cancer published in peer-reviewed journals in 2015. This year saw important publications in geriatric assessment, psychosocial care, in the information and supportive care needs of older adults and the role of pharmacists and rehabilitation specialists in the geriatric oncology clinic.

Left behind: cancer disparities in the developed world.

Huge advances have been made in cancer treatments over recent decades; however, significant disparities still exist in the developed world on the basis of race, socioeconomic status, education level, geographical location, and immigration status and in the United States, insurance status. Cancer disparities persist in the continuum of cancer care from risk factors, screening, diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, and end-of-life care. The causes of disparities are complex and multifactorial. The MASCC (Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer) Education Study Group would like to propose a framework of cancer disparities from a social perspective utilizing "social determinants of health" as delineated by the World Health Organization and highlight an unmet need for research and policy innovations to address cancer disparities in developed world.

Palliative care specialists' beliefs about spiritual care.

A previous survey of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) members found low frequency of spiritual care provision. We hypothesized that physicians with special training in palliative medicine would demonstrate an increased sense of responsibility for and higher self-reported adequacy to provide spiritual care to patients than health professionals with general training. We surveyed members of the Australian and New Zealand Palliative Medicine Society (ANZSPM) to ascertain their spiritual care practices. We sent 445 e-mails on four occasions, inviting members to complete the online survey. Tabulated results were analyzed to describe the results. One hundred and fifty-eight members (35.5%) responded. Physicians working primarily in palliative care comprised the majority (95%) of the sample. Significantly more of the ANZSPM than MASCC respondents had previously received training in spiritual care and had pursued training in the previous 2years. There was a significant difference between the two groups with regard to interest in and self-reported ability to provide spiritual care. Those who believed it was their responsibility to provide spiritual care were more likely to have had training, feel they could adequately provide spiritual care, and were more likely to refer patients if they could not provide spiritual care themselves. Training in spiritual care was more common in healthcare workers who had received training in palliative care. ANZSPM members gave higher scores for both the importance of spiritual care and self-reported ability to provide it compared to MASCC members.

Improving the treatment of patients with low-risk neutropenic fever: A quality improvement project at the Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute (TCI).

101 Background: NF is an oncologic emergency and has historically resulted in inpatient (inpt) management. The Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) score can be used to identify NF pts at LR for complications who can be safely managed in the outpatient (outpt) setting. Despite established guidelines supporting outpt management of LRNF, provider awareness is low and inpt admission for intravenous antibiotics (abx) continues to be standard of care. Methods: A multidisciplinary team performed a QI project to improve management of LRNF (baseline cohort of LRNF pts treated from Jan - Mar 2014, N = 13). Inpt provider education began in the Q2 2014. Providers calculated MASCC scores for pts with non-leukemia hematologic malignancies and solid tumors at the time of admission. Data was collected in a prospectively maintained registry. Pts identified as LR by MASCC score were admitted under observation and placed on oral abx. If exclusion criteria and social barriers were not identified, discharge (dc) within 24 hrs of admission was planned. To ensure pt safety, close follow up included phone follow up within 48 hrs of dc and a provider visit within 72 hrs. Results: 52 pts were admitted to the TCI inpt oncology unit with NF from Oct 2014 - June 2015. 34 pts (65%) had LRNF (MASCC score, &lt; 21). 9 pts (26%) were dc within 24 hrs. Only 2 LRNF pts had a culture proven infection – both Enterococcus UTIs. 3 pts required readmission for reasons other than scheduled inpt chemotherapy: 1 high risk pt for new symptoms and 2 LRNF pts (22%) dc within 24 hours for recurrent fever; neither had culture proven infection. Pts with LRNF had an average LOS of 3.3 days compared to 6.2 days in the historical cohort. There were no deaths due to NF in either cohort. Conclusions: Calculating a MASCC score at admission identifies pts who are potential candidates for outpt, oral abx therapy. This pilot study demonstrates that provider education followed by implementation of a system to ensure close follow up may result in earlier dc for LRNF pts without increasing risk of complications or readmission. Further follow up will occur Q3 2015 and data will be presented on changes in cost measures.

Editorial introductions

Editorial introductions

Evaluation of febrile neutropenic episodes in adult patients with solid tumors.

The clinical use of cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents has increased survival in cancer patients. However, treatment-associated bone marrow suppression and neutropenia often render patients prone to life-threatening infections. The aim of this study was to evaluate episodes of febrile neutropenia (FN) in patients with solid tumors, and identify the microorganisms and the factors affecting mortality. A total of 100 primary febrile attacks in cancer patients who were followed up at the Department of Oncology of the Akdeniz University Medical Faculty Hospital between January, 2011 and May, 2012, were retrospectively investigated. FN attacks were classified in three groups as follows: Fever of unknown origin, clinically documented infections and microbiologically documented infections. We found that prolonged neutropenia, Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) score <21 and the presence of metastasis increased mortality. We also compared the three groups of infection categories according to mortality rate, but did not observe any significant differences among these groups. Patients with malignancies should be assessed individually during the FN episodes. It is crucial to keep possible infectious pathogens in mind and evaluate the MASCC score, neutropenia duration and metastatic status of the patients, and start empirical antibiotic therapy immediately.

Problem solving in acute oncology

The 2008 National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death within 30 days of chemotherapy and subsequent formation of the National Chemotherapy Advisory Group were instrumental in the commissioning and subsequent development of ‘Acute Oncology' in the UK (National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcomes and Death, 2008). This report highlighted that 27% of cancer patients likely had their death caused or hastened by systemic anti-cancer therapy. As a result, Acute Oncology Services, which are subject to peer review, should now give specialist input during the hospital admission of all suspected new cancer and known cancer patients admitted to hospital with complications related to treatment and/or cancer (National Cancer Action Team, 2011). This recommendation is important as currently, an alarming 20% of cancer diagnoses are made following an emergency hospital admission (Royal College of Physicians, 2013). The aim of this network-wide service is that following an unplanned hospital admission, there is a route to faster diagnosis, referral and treatment using local pathways leading to improved quality of care. The resulting reduced hospital stay with input from clinicians specialising in oncology is hoped to improve patient satisfaction while being more efficient for health-care providers. Marshall et al are to be congratulated on their comprehensive review of Acute Oncology internationally as it stands today. It is a timely publication as the numbers of patients diagnosed with cancer are rising coupled with the increased use and variety of anti-cancer therapies. The impressive group of contributors with a vast array of experience present a very readable, case-based approach to the most common presentations encountered in an Acute Oncology practice. The publication has been supported by the Association of Cancer Physicians. The book starts with the history, politics and structure of Acute Oncology services both nationally and internationally, which is a fascinating read. The structure of these services differs between countries and also within the same country. It goes on to provide a very practical guide on the management of every day clinical conundrums in Acute Oncology, including how to manage the sick patient appropriately. A good Acute Oncologist will have a broad understanding of general medicine, and this book encompasses well-described, up-to-date tools – for example, National Early Warning Scores (NEWS) and the Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) scores. The text is subsequently divided up into complications of cancer treatment (systemic therapy and radiotherapy) followed by complications of cancer itself. The publication exceeded our expectations, in that not only was it well written and clearly laid out, but also it included a wide variety of relevant case-based discussions that are referenced with guidance on suggested further reading. Complications of common chemotherapeutics as well as newer, targeted agents such as anti-angiogenic therapy were included. Occasionally, we felt that more treatment details would be helpful – for example, anti-angiogenic therapy-induced hypertension treatment guidelines (incorporating blood pressure levels, antihypertensive doses, options). However, the level of detail is adequate for the acute oncology setting and details of ongoing specialist management is beyond the remit of this book. It was particularly helpful to have a section dedicated to the acute management of cancer patients on clinical trials – an area that can be daunting to clinicians who may not be familiar with toxicities seen with newer treatments and the logistical aspects in relation to trial patients (e.g., significance of documentation of adverse events). In addition, the section on acute pain management provides a useful, basic guide in an acute situation. The book also gives helpful tips on controversial areas often debated about among doctors in the acute situation, such as which patients with ascites might benefit from diuretics and escalation of care to the more intensive environment. Problem Solving in Acute Oncology will serve as an excellent educational source for those new to the field and has many useful points of revision for those of us already in the specialty. Improving outcomes for our cancer patients such as earlier detection of sepsis and its timely treatment is vital. New cancer diagnoses and oncology-related problems are not uncommon for the average medical take and this book should be of interest to acute general physicians. Acute Oncology is a multidisciplinary specialty and it is possible that in the future, increasing numbers of patients will be risk stratified following initial assessment and then partly treated in the community. Network guidelines, along with those from agencies such as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, will be complemented by books such as this whose educational material will increase health-care practitioner confidence, to help ensure robust, safe and up-to-date practice.

Ambulatory Outpatient Management of patients with low risk febrile neutropaenia

Patients with febrile neutropenia are a heterogeneous group with only a minority developing significant medical complications. Scoring systems, such as the Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) score, have been developed and validated to identify low risk patients. Caring for patients with low risk febrile neutropenia in an ambulatory setting is proven to be safe and effective. Benefits include admission avoidance, cost savings and reduced risk of nosocomial infections, as well as improved patient experience and satisfaction. Implementation of an ambulatory pathway for low risk febrile neutropenia provides an excellent opportunity for Acute Physicians and Oncologists to collaborate in delivering care for this group of patients.

Utility of the Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) Risk Index Score as a Criterion for Nonadmission in Febrile Neutropenic Patients with Solid Tumors.

Febrile neutropenic episodes in patients with solid tumors were identified electronically from 10/1/2008 to 11/15/2010. Inclusion criteria were met in 198 episodes. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of the MASCC risk index score vs complications were, respectively, 94%, 29.6%, 57.7%, and 82.9%. An MASCC risk index score of 21 or greater could not be used as a criterion for "no complication/ do not admit." Inability to eat should be an admission criterion.

Emergencies in Hematology and Oncology

Clinicians must be able to recognize and treat emergencies associated with malignancies and cancer treatment. Such emergencies include metabolic, neurologic, cardiovascular, hematologic, and infectious emergencies. This review details the pathophysiology, stabilization and assessment, diagnosis and treatment and disposition and outcomes for these emergencies in hematology and oncology. Figures show mechanisms of spinal cord compression, a magnetic resonance image showing a metastasis to the thoracic spine compressing the spinal cord, a contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance image of a 54-year-old female with metastatic ovarian cancer, an electrocardiogram and a cardiac echocardiogram of a 50-year-old female with malignant pericardial effusion with cardiac tamponade, a computed tomography scan of a mass compressing the superior vena cava, a blood smear from a patient with acute myeloid leukemia, and an algorithm showing the initial management of fever and neutropenia. Tables list the management of hypercalcemia of malignancy; Cairo-Bishop definition of laboratory and clinical tumor lysis; grading, risk stratification, and management of tumor lysis syndrome; management of intracranial hypertension and seizures in adults; factors favoring low risk of severe infection in patients with neutropenic fever; Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) risk index score; and indications for the addition of a gram-positive antibiotic to the initial empirical regimen. This review contains 8 highly rendered figures, 9 tables, and 136 references.

A new prognostic model for chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia.

The objective of this study was to develop and validate a new prognostic model for febrile neutropenia (FN). This study comprised 1001 episodes of FN: 718 for the derivation set and 283 for the validation set. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed with unfavorable outcome as the primary endpoint and bacteremia as the secondary endpoint. In the derivation set, risk factors for adverse outcomes comprised age ≥ 60 years (2 points), procalcitonin ≥ 0.5 ng/mL (5 points), ECOG performance score ≥ 2 (2 points), oral mucositis grade ≥ 3 (3 points), systolic blood pressure <90 mmHg (3 points), and respiratory rate ≥ 24 breaths/min (3 points). The model stratified patients into three severity classes, with adverse event rates of 6.0 % in class I (score ≤ 2), 27.3 % in class II (score 3-8), and 67.9 % in class III (score ≥ 9). Bacteremia was present in 1.1, 11.5, and 29.8 % of patients in class I, II, and III, respectively. The outcomes of the validation set were similar in each risk class. When the derivation and validation sets were integrated, unfavorable outcomes occurred in 5.9 % of the low-risk group classified by the new prognostic model and in 12.2 % classified by the Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) risk index. With the new prognostic model, we can classify patients with FN into three classes of increasing adverse outcomes and bacteremia. Early discharge would be possible for class I patients, short-term observation could safely manage class II patients, and inpatient admission is warranted for class III patients.

Evaluation of the validity of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting assessment in outpatients using the Japanese version of the MASCC antiemesis tool.

The Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) developed the MASCC antiemesis tool (MAT) as a tool for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) assessment and subsequently published its Japanese version in 2010. We evaluated the validity of CINV assessment in outpatients using the Japanese version of MAT. Patients administered highly or moderately emetogenic chemotherapy in the outpatient chemotherapy unit of our hospital were included in the study. The study was designed as a prospective two-period crossover observational study to evaluate the correlation between the daily patient diary and the Japanese version of MAT in terms of CINV onset. We examined with a focus on reliability of the Japanese version of MAT particularly in the description of the delayed phase of nausea and vomiting. Patient descriptions of CINV onset in a total of 116 cycles in 58 patients (two cycles/patient) were analyzed. The CINV incidence indicated by the patient diary was similar to that by the Japanese version of MAT. The concordance rate between the two tools in the same patients was 86.2 % for CINV onset in the delayed phase. The nausea score was also similar between the two tools regarding the mean and variance, showing a strong correlation with a correlation coefficient of 0.71. The results of the study showed that the Japanese version of MAT is a highly reliable tool for CINV assessment, indicating that it is valid for assessing CINV in outpatients.

A comparison of ED and direct admission care of cancer patients with febrile neutropenia

ObjectiveWe compared the quality of care in admitted febrile neutropenic cancer patients presenting through the emergency department (ED) vs those directly admitted (DA) from the clinic or infusion center. We hypothesized that the quality of care would be comparable between these 2 pathways. MethodsWe conducted a retrospective, observational cohort study of all adult cancer patients hospitalized with subjective or objective fever (≥100.4°F) and documented neutropenia (absolute neutrophil count ≤1000/mm3) from January 1, 2011 to June 30, 2013, at 2 hospitals. Two investigators retrieved data including patient age, sex, race, tumor type, blood culture growth, temperature (actual or reported), pathway to admission (ED or DA), time to antibiotic administration, length of stay, and the Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) risk score. The primary outcome measures were time to antibiotic administration, appropriateness of antibiotic(s) administered based on published guidelines, length of stay, and MASCC score–based risk assessment. We used the t test for the difference between 2 means with unequal population variances to compare these outcome measures between ED and DA patients. ResultsOne hundred twenty-seven visits met inclusion criteria (42 [33%] ED visits, 85 [67%] DA visits). Mean time to antibiotic administration, mean length of stay, appropriateness of antibiotics, and MASCC score–based risk assessment were comparable between ED and DA visits (P>.05 for all comparisons). ConclusionThe quality of care for febrile neutropenia in patients presenting through the ED was comparable to those directly admitted to the hospital in this 2-center study.

Outpatient management of febrile neutropenia associated with cancer chemotherapy: risk stratification and treatment review.

Strategies for the management of chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia (FN), including assessment tools for determining which patients are at low risk for FN complications and can be treated in the outpatient setting, are discussed. Due to the potential for life-threatening complications, the development of FN in patients receiving cancer chemotherapy traditionally prompted hospitalization and i.v. antimicrobial therapy, but there is convincing published evidence that an identifiable subset of patients can be safely treated as outpatients. Two validated assessment tools recommended for identifying patients at low risk for FN complications are the Talcott classification system and the Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) risk index; the MASCC index is superior in terms of sensitivity and negative predictive value but has lower specificity. In low-risk FN cases, outpatient oral antimicrobial therapy has been shown to be a safe and effective alternative to i.v. therapy for both inpatients and outpatients; current practice guidelines recommend an oral fluoroquinolone (e.g., ciprofloxacin) in combination with oral amoxicillin-clavulanate. The guidelines emphasize that in certain cases of FN (e.g., those involving prolonged or pronounced neutropenia or serious comorbidities), inpatient i.v. therapy is required. Pharmacists can play an important role in the management of chemotherapy-associated FN through involvement in risk assessment to identify candidates for outpatient oral antimicrobial therapy, selection of appropriate pharmacotherapy, drug therapy monitoring, and development of institutional guidelines or pathways.

Impact of time to antibiotics on outcomes of chemotherapy-induced febrile neutropenia.

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the time to antibiotic administration and patients' outcomes of febrile neutropenia (FN). We also investigated the relationship between the time to antibiotics and mortality rates in a subgroup of patients with bacteremia or severe sepsis or septic shock. From the Neutropenic Fever Registry, we analyzed 1001 consecutive FN episodes diagnosed from November 1, 2011, to August 31, 2014. Timing cutoffs for antibiotics included the following: ≤1 vs. >1 h, ≤2 vs. >2 h, ≤3 vs. >3 h, and ≤4 vs. >4 h. Multivariate logistic regression was used to adjust for potential confounders in the association between timing intervals and outcomes of FN episodes. The median length of time from triage to antibiotics was 140 min (interquartile range, 110-180 min). At each time cutoff, the time from triage to antibiotic administration was not significantly associated with FN outcomes after adjusting for potential confounders. Antibiotic timing was not significantly associated with complication rates in overall FN episodes. We failed to find a significant relationship between antibiotic timing and mortality in FN episodes with severe sepsis or septic shock or with bacteremia. Procalcitonin concentration and the Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) risk index score were found to be more crucial determinants of outcomes in patients with FN. The time to antibiotic administration is not a major factor in FN outcomes.

Fluoroquinolone resistance in bacteremic and low risk febrile neutropenic patients with cancer

BackgroundThe low risk febrile neutropenic patients with Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) score of more than 20 are recommended to be treated with fluoroquinolone-based oral treatment by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guideline. This recommendation relies, at least partially, on the high sensitivity of the blood culture isolates to fluoroquinolone in clinical trials conducted in Western countries. Whether this also applies in middle or low income countries like China where antibiotic resistance is becoming prevalent recently has not been evaluated.MethodsAll the positive blood culture results from January 2010 to December 2013 in the 2 large Chinese cancer centers were reviewed. The patients were included into the study with the following criteria: febrile neutropenia, solid tumor or lymphoma, MASCC score >20, positive blood cultures within two days of the onset of fever, and detailed treatment history.ResultsA total of 38 patients were included in this analysis. Two patients had polymicrobial bacteremia (Enterococcus faecalis and Flavimonas oryzihabitans). Other isolates included coagulase-negative staphylococcus, micrococcal species, viridans streptococci, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Escherichia coli. The majority of the monomicrobial isolates from these 36 patients was Escherichia coli (28 patients, 74%). Notably, in contrast to the high sensitivity to fluoroquinolone from blood culture of the low risk patients in previous reports in Westen countries, a very high drug resistance was observed: 13 out of 28 Escherichia coli isolates (46%) or 14 out of all 38 positive cultures (37%).ConclusionThe results warrant further validations in prospective clinical trials in countries where antibiotic resistance is prevalent to ensure appropriate antibiotic administration.