# Early de-escalation of empiric antibiotic therapy in neutropenic fever: a single-center, retrospective study

## TL;DR

A hospital study found that stopping broad-spectrum antibiotics after 48 hours of fever reduction in neutropenic patients is safe and does not increase infection or mortality risks.

## Contribution

This study demonstrates the safety of early antibiotic de-escalation in neutropenic fever management.

## Key findings

- Early de-escalation of empiric antibiotics was not linked to increased subsequent infections.
- No significant increase in mortality or decompensation was observed after de-escalation.

## Abstract

We implemented a policy to discontinue empiric antibiotics after 48 hours of defervescence in neutropenic fever with no identified clinical/microbiologic infection. Among patients with acute myeloid leukemia or hematopoietic stem cell transplant, early de-escalation was not associated with increased subsequent infection, decompensation, or mortality, supporting its safety and feasibility.