Empirical treatment of fever in neutropenic children: the role of the carbapenems

The occurrence of fever during periods of neutropenia in children with cancer presents a difficult problem for the clinician. Neutropenic patients are at high risk of potentially life-threatening infections. Although the principle of prompt empirical antibiotic therapy is well-established, changes in the patterns of nosocomial infections in this group of patients have necessitated continuing reappraisal of the antibiotic regimens used. This article reviews developments in this area and discusses the role of the carbapenems in the treatment of fever and infections in neutropenic children.