Febrile Neutropenic Infection Occurred in Cancer Patients Undergoing Autologous Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation

• Neutropenic infection is still the major complication in APBSCT patients.
• Duration of neutropenia is one of the major risk factors of early infection.
• Prophylactic administration of antifungal drugs seems to be invalid to reduce post-APBSCT infection.
• Sufficient doses of broad-spectrum antibiotics at the early stage of infection lead to better results of initial antimicrobial treatment.

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to investigate the incidence, risk factors, and clinical and prognostic characteristics of febrile infection that occurred during the neutropenic period in cancer patients who underwent autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (APBSCT).MethodsClinical data of all the APBSCT cases from 2007 to 2009 in Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center were collected and retrospectively analyzed.ResultsEighty-nine APBSCT subjects were investigated. Neutropenia usually occurred on the 4th day (range, 0–15) after transplantation and lasted 6 (range, 3–27) days. Febrile neutropenia occurred in 78.7% patients and lasted around 3 (range, 1–20) days and no infection-related deaths were observed. For febrile episodes, 12 patients (17.1%) were diagnosed as having microbiologically documented infections (MDI). Initial empirical antimicrobial therapy was given to all cases of post-APBSCT febrile neutropenia, of which 44 cases (62.9%) were effective. Febrile neutropenia occurred in 25/34 (73.5%) patients who were given antifungal drugs for prophylaxis.ConclusionsNeutropenic infection is still the major complication in APBSCT patients and duration of neutropenia is one of the major risk factors. Prophylactic administration of antifungal drugs seems to be invalid to reduce post-APBSCT infection. Sufficient doses of broad-spectrum antibiotics at the early stage lead to better results of initial antimicrobial treatment.