Table 1.
Baseline characteristics.
| Baseline Characteristic | Total (90 FN Episodes), No. (%) |
Intervention (45 FN Episodes), No. (%) |
Control (45 FN Episodes), No. (%) |
p Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age, mean years ± SD | 51.6 ± 15.6 | 15.6 ± 14.6 | 52.0 ± 16.7 | 0.894 |
| Male | 42 (46.7) | 16 (35.6) | 26 (57.8) | 0.035 |
| Weight, mean kg ± SD | 57.76 ± 1.50 | 58.94 ± 1.94 | 60.57 ± 2.30 | 0.590 |
| Cause of febrile neutropenia | ||||
| Cytotoxic chemotherapy | 67 (74.4) | 34 (75.6) | 33 (73.3) | 1.000 |
| During period of initial hematologic abnormalities diagnosis | 20 (22.2) | 10 (22.2) | 10 (22.2) | 1.000 |
| Other causes a | 3 (3.33) | 1 (2.22) | 2 (4.44) | 1.000 |
| Active hematologic cancer | 72 (80) | 34 (75.6) | 38 (84.4) | 0.496 |
| Active solid cancer | 8 (8.9) | 4 (8.9) | 4 (8.9) | 0.496 |
| MASCC score, median (IQR) | 20 (17–21) | 19 (13–21) | 21 (19–21) | 0.129 |
| High risk of febrile neutropenia (MASCC < 21) | 45 (50) | 25 (55.6) | 20 (44.4) | 0.292 |
| Absolute neutrophil count, median cells/mm3 (IQR) | 153.9 (19–520) | 184 (40–645) | 77 (13–368) | 0.198 |
| Had history of febrile neutropenia | 46 (51.1) | 20 (44.4) | 26 (57.8) | 0.206 |
| Recent exposed to antibiotic within past 3 months | 50 (55.6) | 25 (55.6) | 25 (55.6) | 1.000 |
| Neutropenia duration, median days (IQR) | 7 (4–14) | 8 (4–14) | 6 (4–10) | 0.435 |
| Infectious diseases specialist consultation | 50 (55.6) | 27 (60) | 23 (51.1) | 0.396 |
| Time to administer antibiotic, median hours (IQR) | 1 (0–4) | 1.5 (0–4) | 1 (0–4) | 0.497 |
| Causative organism identified | 49 (54.4) | 26 (57.8) | 23 (51.1) | 0.525 |
| Gram-positive bacteria | 12 (13.3) | 7 (15.6) | 5 (11.1) | 0.774 |
| Gram-negative bacteria | 39 (43.3) | 20 (44.4) | 19 (42.2) | 0.761 |
| ESBL-producing organisms | 12 (13.3) | 3 (6.7) | 9 (20) | 0.118 |
| Carbapenem resistance organisms | 5 (5.6) | 4 (8.9) | 1 (2.2) | 0.361 |
ESBL, extended spectrum beta-lactamase; FN, febrile neutropenia; IQR, interquartile range; MASCC, Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer risk index score; SD, standard deviation. a Other causes of febrile neutropenia were from vitamin B12 deficiency, zidovudine-induce pancytopenia and severe infection.