Neutropenia

Background

Neutropenia

• ANC = (total WBC) x (%segs + %bands)
• Nadir usually occurs 5-10 days after chemotherapy
• Duration of neutropenia depends on type of cancer treatment
  • Solid tumor treatments: <5 days
  • Hematologic malignancies: 14 days or longer
    • (Leukemia or lymphoma) + chemo most commonly associated with neutropenia

Neutropenic fever definition

• ANC <500 OR <1000 with predicted nadir of <500 in 48h AND
• Fever ≥ 38.3˚C (100.9˚F) once OR sustained temperature ≥38 (100.4) for >1hr
  • Oral temperature (do not obtain rectal temp; risk of inducing bacteremia)

See Also

• Neutropenic fever