Comparison of anti-anaerobic antimicrobial strategies in cancer patients with febrile neutropenia and gastrointestinal symptoms

BACKGROUND: The current study sought to compare 28-day mortality rates in cancer patients with febrile neutropenia (FN) and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms who underwent monotherapy using an antibiotic with antipseudomonal and anti-anaerobic activity (piperacillin-tazobactam or a carbapenem) and a group treated with a combination of cefepime-metronidazole. FINDINGS: We performed a prospective cohort study in a single tertiary hospital from October 2009 to August 2011. All consecutive adult cancer patients admitted with FN secondary to intensive chemotherapy and GI symptoms (abdominal pain, diarrhea or perianal pain) were evaluated. Kaplan-Meier curves were used for calculating time-dependent occurence of death. In total, 37 patients with FN and GI symptoms were evaluated (15 in monotherapy arm and 22 in the combination therapy arm). Treatment with combination cefepime and metronidazole resulted in a lower 28-day mortality rate compared with piperacillin-tazobactam or carbapenem monotherapy (0% versus 40%; log-rank P=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Results of the present study suggest a significant reduction in mortality in cancer patients with FN and GI symptoms treated with combination cefepime-metronidazole therapy compared with monotherapy using agents with antipseudomonal and anti-anaerobic activity. Further randomized trials are warranted to confirm the superior results using combination therapy in patients with FN and GI symptoms.