Fever and Neutropenia

Today, with increasing number of patient who receive chemotherapy or bone marrow transplants, complex of fever and neutropenia are more frequently seen. In addition to infectious causes, other etiologies such as pyrogenic medications, allergic reactions, administration of blood products and malignancy process (per se) should also be noted. Approach to these patients should be consisted of a complete history taking, physical examination and using paraclinical data such as laboratory and radiologic studies. Empirical antibiotic therapy is used to protect against the early morbidity and mortality of untreated bacterial infections. This article reviews the different causes of the fever in neutropenic patients, how to approach to the problem and how to treat it.