Pediatric oncology patients frequently experience episodes of prolonged neutropenia which puts them at high risk for infection with significant morbidity and mortality. Here, we review the data on infection prophylaxis with a focus on both pharmacologic and ancillary interventions. This review does not include patients receiving hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Patients with hematologic malignancies are at highest risk for infection. Bacterial and fungal prophylaxis decrease the risk of infection in certain high-risk groups. Ancillary measures such as ethanol locks, chlorhexidine gluconate baths, GCSF, IVIG, and mandatory hospitalization do not have enough data to support routine use. There is limited data on risk of infection and role of prophylaxis in patients receiving immunotherapy and patients with solid tumors. Patients with Down syndrome and adolescent and young adult patients may benefit from additional supportive care measures and protocol modifications. Consider utilizing bacterial and fungal prophylaxis in patients with acute myeloid leukemia or relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia. More research is needed to evaluate other supportive care measures and the role of prophylaxis in patients receiving immunotherapy. 

/pdf/neutropenia-and-infection-prophylaxis-in-childhood-cancer-181avfxh.pdf

Home or Away from Home: A Multi-Institution Study Comparing Medical Outcomes, Patient Perspectives, and Health-Related Quality of Life for Outpatient Versus Inpatient Management after Chemotherapy for Pediatric Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Neutropenia and Infection Prophylaxis in Childhood Cancer

This study aimed to determine response rates, overall survival (OS), event-free survival (EFS) and toxicity profile of an outpatient chemotherapy regimen based on gemcitabine and vinorelbine (GV) f...

Response rates, long term outcomes and toxicity profile of gemcitabine and vinorelbine based outpatient chemotherapy regimen in primary progressive and relapsed childhood Hodgkin lymphoma

Organic fluid which transports nutrients throughout the organism

Home or Away from Home: A Multi-Institution Study Comparing Medical Outcomes, Patient Perspectives, and Health-Related Quality of Life for Outpatient Versus Inpatient Management after Chemotherapy for Pediatric Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Citations

Neutropenia and Infection Prophylaxis in Childhood Cancer

Response rates, long term outcomes and toxicity profile of gemcitabine and vinorelbine based outpatient chemotherapy regimen in primary progressive and relapsed childhood Hodgkin lymphoma

References

Response rates, long term outcomes and toxicity profile of gemcitabine and vinorelbine based outpatient chemotherapy regimen in primary progressive and relapsed childhood Hodgkin lymphoma