Antibiotic combinations have no advantage in febrile neutropenia

doi:10.1136/bmj.326.7399.0

BMJ 2003;326 (24 May), doi:10.1136/bmj.326.7399.0

Antibiotic combinations have no advantage in febrile neutropenia

Combinations of ${beta}$ lactam with an aminoglycoside have no advantageover treatment with ${beta}$ lactam monotherapy for patients with feverand neutropenia. Paul and colleagues (p 1111) carried outa systematic review and meta-analysis of 47 studies, amountingto 7807 patients. Overall survival was no better with combinationtherapy than with monotherapy, and adverse effects were more common. Furthermore, broad spectrum monotherapy was a more successful treatment. The authors conclude that broad spectrum monotherapyoffers an overall benefit.

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Relevant Article

${beta}$ lactam monotherapy versus ${beta}$ lactam-aminoglycoside combination therapy for fever with neutropenia: systematic review and meta-analysis: Mical Paul, Karla Soares-Weiser, and Leonard Leibovici
BMJ 2003 326: 1111. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]