ABSTRACT
The most common dose-limiting toxicity of conventional chemotherapy is myelosuppression, with resulting neutropenia (defined as an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) less than 500/µl) and its potential infectious complications. Studies have demonstrated that the risk of initial infection and subsequent complications are directly related to the depth and duration of neutropenia,1 with the magnitude of neutropenia being dependent on the intensity of the chemotherapy as well as some probable host-and disease-related factors.2,3 In spite of standard therapy for neutropenic fever, which typically includes intravenous antibiotics and hospitalization, neutropenic fever still carries a risk of mortality, along with the economic costs of care as well as potential negative impact on quality of life.
