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Febrile Neutropenia

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Oncologic Emergency Medicine

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Abstract

Febrile neutropenia is an important complication of cytotoxic chemotherapy. Although the condition has been studied for decades, we are continuously learning more about the unique pathophysiology involved, the best methods of detection and risk stratification, and the most appropriate antimicrobials. Fever is particularly challenging in patients with cancer, as this can be due to the patient’s primary malignancy, their chemotherapy, or a potentially dangerous infection. It is due to this potential risk that patients with febrile neutropenia receive broad infectious workups and quite frequently require admission to the hospital. More recently, validated risk stratification tools have allowed for a low-risk cohort to be safely discharged from the clinic or emergency department (ED) setting. There have also been promising advancements in the identification of biomarkers that may aid clinicians in identifying those patients who require more aggressive therapy. It is critical that all clinicians who care for patients with cancer have a thorough and up-to-date understanding of the pathophysiology, diagnostics, and management of febrile neutropenia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Emergency Medicine, Department of Radiation Medicine and Applied Sciences, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA

    Christopher J. Coyne

  2. Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA

    Rahul V. Nene

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  1. Christopher J. Coyne
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Correspondence to Christopher J. Coyne .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Former Professor and Founding Chair (Retired), The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

    Knox H. Todd

  2. Professor and Chair, Department of Radiation Medicine, Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA

    Charles R. Thomas, Jr.

  3. Professor and Chair, Department of Emergency Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

    Kumar Alagappan

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Coyne, C.J., Nene, R.V. (2021). Febrile Neutropenia. In: Todd, K.H., Thomas, Jr., C.R., Alagappan, K. (eds) Oncologic Emergency Medicine. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-67123-5_39

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-67123-5_39

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