Non-inpatient Treatment of Febrile Episodes in Patients with Hematological Malignancy

Infection related to indwelling central venous catheters is associated with considerable morbidity and inconvenience to patients, and has traditionally required admission for intravenous antibiotics in an attempt to salvage the line. We report the successful usage of an outpatient regimen consisting of alternate day teicoplanin with oral ciprofloxacin, which resulted in line salvage in 74% of cases, achieved satisfactory serum levels of teicoplanin and avoided the need for admission to hospital, with concomitant cost savings.