Preventive antibiotics in pediatric patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Background: Treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) comes with a significant risk of life-threatening infection during periods of prolonged severe neutropenia. We studied the impact of preventive intravenous (IV) antibiotic administration at onset of absolute neutropenia on the incidence and outcome of life-threatening infections during treatment of childhood AML.

Procedures: This is a retrospective study on pediatric patients (aged 0-18 years) consecutively diagnosed with de novo AML and treated at a single institution from April 2005 through February 2013.

Pediatric oncology providers' perceptions of barriers and facilitators to early integration of pediatric palliative care.

Background: Pediatric patients experience significant symptoms during cancer treatment. Symptom management is frequently inadequate. We studied perceptions of pediatric oncology care providers regarding early integration of palliative care (PC) for pediatric patients to identify barriers and facilitators that might assist in understanding how care could be improved.