Management of febrile neutropenia: consensus of the Brazilian Association of Hematology, Blood Transfusion and Cell Therapy - ABHH.

Febrile neutropenia is a major complication of the treatment of patients with hematologic diseases. Recent epidemiologic changes, with an increase in infection caused by drug-resistant bacteria, represent a major challenge for the proper management of febrile neutropenia. The impact of these changes in the epidemiology of infection may vary according to the region. In this document we present recommendations from the Infectious Diseases Committee of the Brazilian Association of Hematology, Blood Transfusion and Cell Therapy (ABHH) for the management of febrile neutropenia in hematologic patients. The consensus was developed by ten experts in the field, using the Delphi methodology. In the document we provide recommendations for the initial workup, prophylaxis, empiric antibiotic and antifungal therapy, modifications in the empiric regimen and criteria for discontinuing antimicrobial therapy.