Liposomal Amphotericin B for Empirical Therapy in Patients with Persistent Fever and Neutropenia

Invasive fungal infections are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with neutropenia who are receiving chemotherapy for cancer. 1 – 3 Early diagnosis of these infections is difficult, and persistent fever may be the only sign. A delay in treatment while a diagnosis is pursued may lead to increased morbidity and mortality. As a standard of care, patients with persistent fever and neutropenia receive empirical antifungal therapy for the early treatment of clinically occult fungal infection or for the prevention of new fungal infections during neutropenia. 4 , 5 In two randomized, placebo-controlled trials, the frequency of proved invasive fungal infections . . .