Oncologic Emergencies: The Fever With Too Few Neutrophils

Cancer is associated with a variety of complications, including neutropenic fever, which can result in severe morbidity and mortality. This oncologic emergency requires ED management.

This narrative review provides focused updates for emergency clinicians regarding neutropenic fever.

Neutropenic fever is defined by fever with oral temperature >38.3°C or temperature >38.0°C for 1 hour with an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) < 1000 cells/microL. Patients who have received chemotherapy within 6 weeks of presentation are at high risk for neutropenia. While most patients with neutropenic fever do not have an identifiable bacterial source of fever, clinicians should treat patients for bacterial infection. Rapid assessment and management are vital to improving outcomes in patients with suspected or confirmed neutropenic fever. History and examination should focus on the most common sites of infection: the gastrointestinal tract, blood, skin, lung, and urinary tract. However, physical examination and laboratory or imaging assessment may not display classic signs of infection. Blood cultures should be obtained, and broad-spectrum antibiotics are recommended. Oncology consultation is an integral component in the care of these patients. Several risk scores can assist in stratifying patients who may be appropriate for discharge home and follow-up.

Neutropenic fever is an oncologic emergency. Rapid diagnosis and care of patients with neutropenic fever can improve outcomes, along with oncology consultation.