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Updated: Jul 7, 2026
10:49
Pre-clinical Evaluation of Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors for Treatment of Acute Leukemia
Published on: September 18, 2013
Antibiotic prophylaxis for patients with acute leukemia
Sarah P Hammond1, Lindsey R Baden
1Division of Infectious Diseases, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA. shammond2@partners.org
Leukemia & Lymphoma
|January 31, 2008
Summary
Prophylactic antibiotics for acute leukemia (AL) patients reduce fever and bacterial infections during neutropenia. However, they increase risks of antimicrobial-resistant infections, with no proven mortality benefit.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Chemotherapy for acute leukemia (AL) induces neutropenia, increasing infection risk and mortality.
- Prophylactic antibiotics are used to mitigate infection risk during neutropenia.
- Existing studies show mixed results regarding benefits and risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the benefits and risks of prophylactic antibiotics in neutropenic patients with acute leukemia.
- To determine if prophylactic antibiotics reduce mortality in this patient population.
- To assess the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens associated with prophylaxis.
Main Methods:
- Review of studies assessing prophylactic antibiotic use during neutropenia in acute leukemia.
- Analysis of data on fever incidence, bacterial infections, and mortality rates.
- Investigation into the development of colonization and infection with resistant pathogens.
Main Results:
- Prophylactic antibiotics decrease fever and bacterial infection incidence.
- No placebo-controlled randomized trial has demonstrated a reduction in mortality.
- Increased colonization and infection with antimicrobial-resistant pathogens, including quinolone-resistant E. coli, are observed.
Conclusions:
- The immediate benefits of reduced fever and infection must be weighed against the emergence of resistant pathogens.
- Careful consideration is needed to identify patients who would most benefit from prophylactic antibiotics.
- Further research is required to optimize antibiotic strategies and minimize adverse consequences.
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