About Author: Uday Venkat Mateti1*, Srikala Patha2
1. Department of Pharmacy Practice & Pharm.D, St Peter’s Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Rohini Hospital, Kakatiya University, Warangal, India
2. Department of Pharmacy Practice, Bharat Institute of Technology (Pharmacy), KIMS Hospital, JNTU, Hyderabad, India
Abstract
The mortality rate of febrile neutropenia (FN) has diminished steadily but remains significant. Overall mortality rates are 5% in patients with solid tumors (1% in low-risk patients) and as high as 11% in some hematological malignancies. Piperacillin/Tazobactam is a β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combination with a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity against most Gram-positive, Gram-negative aerobic bacteria and anaerobic bacteria. Piperacillin/Tazobactam is effective and well tolerated in patients with febrile neutropenia. Guidelines for the Management of Febrile Neutropenia in Oncology Patients and the 2010 National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Prevention and treatment for febrile neutropenia recommends as initial treatment in patients with FN who are at high risk of serious infections. In comparative clinical trials against various other antibacterial regimens. Piperacillin/Tazobactam has shown higher clinical success rates, particularly in the treatment of patients with febrile neutropenia. Piperacillin/Tazobactam has shown clinical as well as the economic advantages over other antibacterial regimens in the treatment of febrile episodes in patients with neutropenia. It is likely to reduce overall treatment costs of moderate to severe febrile neutropenia by increasing initial treatment success thereby reducing the length of hospital stay and the use of additional antibacterials. Present data regarding clinical efficacy, safety and costs would support the use of Piperacillin/Tazobactam as an empirical first-line option in moderate to severe febrile episodes in patients with neutropenia.
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