Y5 - Neutropenic Sepsis Flashcards
what is neutropenic sepsis also called
febrile neutropenia
def
fever >38 for 1 hour with an absolute neutrophil count of <500cells/microlitre
what is the most common life threatening complication of cancer therapy
febrile neutropenia
epi
most common life threatening complication of cancer therapy
very common in haematological malignancies
aetiology
common complication of chemotherapy (esp of haematological malignancies)
pathogenesis
occurs when a patient with neutropenis develops an infection
what is a major source of pathogens in febrile neutropenia
host endogenous flora
risk factors
elderly
low albumin
co-morbidities (other organ failure)
anaemia
what are features of febrile neutropenia
recent chemotherapy
symptoms and signs of sepsis (fever, tachycardia, hypoytension)
other symptoms related to infection (N+V+D, cough, SOB, dysuria)
what malignancies are most associated with febrile neutropenia
haematological
investigations
1 bloods
-FBC (absolute neutrophil count <500cells/microlitre)
2 blood cultures
-positive for a pathogen
what respiratory infection is very common with neutropenic sepsis
pneumonia
why is neutropenic sepsis so important
it is the most common life-threatening complication of chemotherapy
what % of deaths is neutropenic sepsis responsible for
50% of deaths for chemotherapy of solid tumours
75% of deaths from chemotherapy for acute leukaemia
what should be given immediately in neutropenic sepsis
antibiotics