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Infections Post Transplant

Infectious complications in breast cancer patients undergoing peripheral blood stem cell transplantation: a single center retrospective analysis towards outpatient strategy

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 28, pages 883–888 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

Infectious complications were retrospectively analyzed in 129 transplants, performed in 90 patients, to identify characteristics that qualify breast cancer patients for outpatient-based PBSCT. Thirty-one cases (24%) did not develop fever. Of the remaining 98 cases, 84.7% developed fever during severe neutropenia. On univariate analysis, disease stages II–III, first PBSCT, mucositis grades II–IV and the use of two alkylators were associated with a higher risk of fever development. The latter two factors also affected fever occurrence on multivariate analysis. A longer median time to fever onset was observed in patients conditioned with single as compared to double alkylating agent-containing regimens (respectively 8th vs 6th day, P < 0.00001). As compared with metastatic breast cancer (MBC), high risk breast cancer showed a 2.3-fold increased risk of developing early fever during neutropenia (CI 2.3–3.8), remaining the only variable still significant on multivariate analysis (P = 0.0039). Combination antibiotic therapy was equivalent to single agent therapy. Patients suffering from microbiologically documented fever were at higher risk of undergoing second-line antibiotic therapy. In conclusion, MBC patients treated with a conditioning regimen containing only one alkylating agent and adequate prophylaxis for mucositis may qualify for outpatient-based PBSCT on the basis of a lower risk of infection. Bone Marrow Transplantation (2001) 28, 883–888.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro Trapianti di Midollo Osseo, Azienda Ospedaliera Bianchi-Melacrino-Morelli, Reggio, Calabria, Italy

    F Morabito, G Irrera, G Console, M Martino, G Pucci, G Messina & P Iacopino

  2. Divisione di Ematologia, Dipartimento di Ematologia, Azienda Ospedaliera Bianchi-Melacrino-Morelli, Reggio, Calabria, Italy

    E Oliva

  3. Unità Operativa di Microbiologia, Azienda Ospedaliera Bianchi-Melacrino-Morelli, Reggio, Calabria, Italy

    P Barbaro

  4. Unità Operativa di Oncologia Medica, Azienda Ospedaliera dell'Annunziata, Cosenza, Italy

    S Palazzo

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  1. F Morabito
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Morabito, F., Irrera, G., Oliva, E. et al. Infectious complications in breast cancer patients undergoing peripheral blood stem cell transplantation: a single center retrospective analysis towards outpatient strategy. Bone Marrow Transplant 28, 883–888 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bmt.1703246

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bmt.1703246

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