Demographics, morbidity, and mortality febrile neutropenic adult patients treated with cefepime

Introduction: Cefepime efficacy for treatment of febrile neutropenia (FN) in cancer adult patients is a controversial issue. Objective: To describe the demographic characteristics and general mortality of patients suffering from febrile neutropenia treated with cefepime in a fourth-level Latin American hospital. Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was performed. Study settled at San Ignacio of Bogotá, Colombia. University Hospital from January 2004 to December 2008. Results: A total of 333 patients were treated with cefepime, of whom 125 had suffered FN and met pre established inclusion and exclusion criteria. The general mortality was 14.4%, which was similar to the overall mortality in FN in other reports. Conclusions: Although there is still no clarity regarding the efficacy of cefepime in FN, its use has not been restricted. This study did not identify an excess risk of mortality in patients treated with cefepime.