‎‎Fever +/- Neutropenia is a Medical Emergency

Clinical pathway:

Practice Guidelines for Fever +/-  Neutropenia patients

Fever and Neutropenia

Definition:

Fever-  Oral or Temporal temperature ≥38.5°C or Axillary temperature ≥ 38.0°C

Neutropenia- ANC <0.5 x 10⁹/L

Triage:

It is recommended that the BCCH Clinical Pathway be followed and the recommendations for empiric antibiotic use be implemented. (CAVEAT: Individual Hospital Infection Control Policy may dictate other treatment based on their own antibiotic sensitivity profile).

The treating pediatric oncologist (after hours, the oncologist on call) should be notified when a child on active anticancer therapy develops a fever and neutropenia.

Please notify BC Children's Hospital

Weekdays (8am-4pm) Oncology Clinic: 604-875-2345 ext 7079

After hours, weekends, and Stat holidays: Oncologist on call 604-875-2161

Fever, non-neutropenic patients:

All children with central lines require blood cultures with new febrile episodes. If the patient is clinically well, caregivers are reliable, and there are no focal infections requiring treatment, empiric antibiotic therapy is not required. 

APHON Patient & Family Resources

National Cancer Institute

BC Cancer - A comprehensive cancer control program for BC

Children's Oncology Group 

St Jude Cure4Kids - Cure4Kids is an online education resource for healthcare professionals

U-Link Canada - Available clinical trials within Canada; can also assist families with support for travel and accommodation costs when accessing clinical trials outside of local treatment centre.