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ABSTRACT: Background
The primary objective was to describe infectious complications in children with acute myeloid leukemia from presentation to the healthcare system to initiation of chemotherapy and to describe how these infections differ depending on neutropenia.Methods
We conducted a retrospective, population-based cohort study that included children and adolescents with acute myeloid leukemia diagnosed and treated at 15 Canadian centers. We evaluated infections that occurred between presentation to the healthcare system (for symptoms that led to the diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia) until initiation of chemotherapy.Results
Among 328 children, 92 (28.0%) were neutropenic at presentation. Eleven (3.4%) had sterile-site microbiologically documented infection and four had bacteremia (only one Gram negative). Infection rate was not influenced by neutropenia. No child died from an infectious cause prior to chemotherapy initiation.Conclusion
It may be reasonable to withhold empiric antibiotics in febrile non-neutropenic children with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia until initiation of chemotherapy as long as they appear well without a clinical focus of infection. Future work could examine biomarkers or a clinical score to identify children presenting with leukemia and fever who are more likely to have an invasive infection.
SUBMITTER: Portwine C
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3637321 | biostudies-literature | 2013
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Portwine Carol C Mitchell David D Johnston Donna D Gillmeister Biljana B Ethier Marie-Chantal MC Yanofsky Rochelle R Dix David D Cellot Sonia S Lewis Victor V Price Victoria V Silva Mariana M Zelcer Shayna S Bowes Lynette L Michon Bruno B Stobart Kent K Brossard Josee J Beyene Joseph J Sung Lillian L
PloS one 20130426 4
<h4>Background</h4>The primary objective was to describe infectious complications in children with acute myeloid leukemia from presentation to the healthcare system to initiation of chemotherapy and to describe how these infections differ depending on neutropenia.<h4>Methods</h4>We conducted a retrospective, population-based cohort study that included children and adolescents with acute myeloid leukemia diagnosed and treated at 15 Canadian centers. We evaluated infections that occurred between p ...[more]