[Initial evaluation of febrile neutropenic patients: risk quantification]

Infection in immunocompromised hosts represents a serious clinical situation due the high morbidity and mortality it produces and is one of the most frequent complications in patients with cancer. In patients treated with chemotherapy the risk of infection mainly depends on the duration and intensity of neutropenia. It is essential to evaluate which pathogens are involved so that the most appropriate treatment can be selected a priori, as well as to determine the patient's general clinical status so that more or less aggressive treatment can be provided from the beginning, bearing in mind that "low risk" patients can be managed in the home. These questions can be determined by evaluating the patient's clinical history, physical examination, laboratory investigations, and radiological tests. Prompt initiation of broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy adapted to the the patient's risk is crucial.