Risk factors for recurrent fever after the discontinuation of empiric antibiotic therapy for fever and neutropenia in pediatric patients with a malignancy or hematologic condition.

We studied episodes of fever and neutropenia in children and adolescents without documented infections to determine the risk of recurrent fever after early discontinuation of empiric antibiotic therapy; 213 episodes occurred in 106 patients. All patients received empiric antibiotic therapy after cultures were obtained. Antibiotic therapy was discontinued if no infection was found, culture results were negative for 48 hours, and the patient was afebrile for 24 hours. In 83 episodes without documented infection, antibiotic therapy was stopped with absolute neutrophil counts < 0.5 x 10(9)/L (< 500/mm3); 50 episodes occurred in patients with solid tumors, leukemia in remission, and other hematologic conditions (group 1), and 33 in patients with active leukemia (group 2). Fever recurred before neutropenia resolved in 6% of group 1 and 45% of group 2 episodes; five patients in group 2 had documented infection. Recurrent fever risk correlated with absolute neutrophil count and monocyte count at the time antibiotic therapy was stopped, in both groups, as did increasing absolute neutrophil count and increasing leukocyte count in group 2. We conclude that discontinuing antibiotic therapy is safe in febrile episodes without documented infections before neutropenia resolves in patients with high potential for bone marrow recovery. The risk of recurrent fever and infection is significant for patients with neutropenia and poor marrow recovery potential.