An Audit of Efficacy and Toxicity of Teicoplanin Versus Vancomycin in Febrile Neutropenia: Is the Different Toxicity Profile Clinically Relevant?

Abstract

Background:

Glycopeptides are often used for persistent fever in neutropenic patients. This study compares efficacy and toxicity of teicoplanin and vancomycin.

Patients and Methods:

Hundred consecutive neutropenic patients with hematological malignancies and persistent fever after 72 h of first-line antibiotic therapy (91% piperacillin/tazobactam) were treated with teicoplanin (800 mg on day 1, then 400 mg/day) + piperacillin/tazobactam + gentamicin from 08/96 to 09/00 (group T) or with vancomycin (2 g/day) + meropenem + levofloxacin from 10/00 to 04/02 (group V). Success was defervescence (≥ 7 days) in absence of any sign of continuing infection. Nephrotoxicity was monitored daily as increase in serum creatinine.

Results:

Fifty patients were analyzed in each group. Efficacy was evaluated in patients with piperacillin/tazobactam as first-line therapy only. Treatment was successful in 76% in group T (n = 42) and 59% in group V (n = 49), p = 0.118. Toxicity was evaluated in all patients. The median increase of creatinine was 11% (interquartile range 0%–30%) in group T and 17% (0%–74%) in group V, p = 0.062. In patients who received concomitant amphotericin B (given for 7 days and 6 days, respectively, p = 0.525), median creatinine increased from 0.9 mg/dl (0.8–1.1) to 1.2 mg/dl (0.9–1.5) in group T and from 0.9 mg/dl (0.8–1.08) to 1.55 mg/dl (1.33–2.23) in group V (p < 0.001). This led to a doubling of creatinine in 2/23 (9%) patients of group T and in 9/16 (56%) patients of group V (p = 0.003). A multivariate analysis revealed that concomitant use of amphotericin B (p < 0.001) and treatment with vancomycin (p = 0.002) were independently associated with nephrotoxicity.

Conclusion:

Teicoplanin and vancomycin were comparably effective in patients with neutropenia and persistent fever, but – if combined with amphotericin B – vancomycin was significantly more nephrotoxic than teicoplanin.