Cefepime vs. cefoperazone/sulbactam in combination with amikacin as empirical antibiotic therapy in febrile neutropenia.

Purpose: Beta lactams are standard empirical therapy for febrile neutropenia (FN). The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of cefepime monotherapy compared with cefoperazone/sulbactam plus amikacin (CS + A) for empirical treatment of high risk FN.

Methods: One hundred seventy-five patients with 336 FN episodes were randomized to receive either cefepime (2 g q8h for adults and 50 mg/kg q8h for children) or CS (2 g q8h for adults and 50 mg/kg q8h for children) plus amikacin (15 mg/kg once a day).