Short vs Prolonged Antibiotic Treatment for Hospitalized Hemato-oncology Patients With Febrile Neutropenia

Neutropenic fever is a life threatening condition that is not rare in patients suffering from hematologic disorders, and of paramount importance to early and effective treatment. In this trial we concentrate on hospitalized patients with hematologic malignancies who develop neutropenic fever.

In recent years, several studies were conducted to examine possible changes in the conventional empirical treatment, assuming that administration of the antibiotics in a prolonged infusion would allow for a greater fT \> MIC that will lead to a better efficacy.

These studies were carried out in different populations and there is only limited information about the importance of continuous infusion therapy in patients with hematologic diseases with neutropenic fever.

Research goals: The main goal is to compare between two groups of hematologic patients with neutropenic fever, The first group will receive antibiotic therapy in extended infusion, and the second (control) group will receive the treatment in a fixed time.

METHODS: Each patient who will be hospitalized in the Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and which meets the Inclusion criteria for, will be offered to participate in the study. If fever appears during hospitalization empirical treatment of neutropenia will be initiated performed in accordance with the allocation of the patient in the study. Therapeutic success is defined as a combination of several clinical parameters, including: a decline in Fever, the recurrence of fever and improvement in infection.

METHODS: Study format - Prospective unblinded randomized trial.

Neutropenic fever measurement will be set above the fold of 38.3 ° C or fever over 38.0 ° C lasting more than an hour. Neutropenia is defined as absolute neutrophil count (ANC) less than 500 cells / mm3, or expected to fall below this value for the next 48 hours.

Primary care would be one of three options:

1. Tazocin: 4.5gr, TID, I.V. Or
2. Fortum (Ceftazidim): 2.0gr, TID, I.V. - for penicillin-sensitive patients. Or
3. Meropenem: 1.0gr, TID, I.V. - In cases of hypotension not responding to fluids resuscitation, and in consultation with the infectious diseases unit - we will start empirical treatment with Meropenem.

Supplementation of Vancomycin will be at the discretion of the treating physician.

Antibiotic therapy will be replaced, in coordination with the Department of Infectious Diseases in the following cases:

1. The fever does not decrease after 24 hours
2. The patient is not hemodynamically stable or developes an organ failure
3. Evolving of sensitivity response (allergy) suspected to be a response to antibiotic patient is treated with.
4. sensitivity response was received from the laboratory culture Bacteriologist demanding a change in antibiotics.

Replacement of antibiotic therapy is defined as a failure as defined by the primary endpoint. In such a case, continued treatment of the patient would be according to the BMT unit protocol for treatment for neutropenic fever.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Patients who are able to sign an informed consent form
2. Hospitalized patients for one of the following reasons:

   * Induction or consolidation for Acute Leukemia
   * Patients Hospitalized for Autologous BMT
   * Patients Hospitalized for Allogeneic BMT.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients under the age of 18.
2. Patients who are unable to provide informed consent.
3. Patients with acute lymphatic leukemia hospitalized for maintenance treatment
4. Patients who will not be staying for the entire duration of neutropenia in house.