Reducing empiric antibiotic administration in pediatric oncology patients with non-neutropenic fever: a single-center quality improvement initiative

The management of non-neutropenic fever in pediatric oncology varies widely, with many providers choosing to administer empiric antibiotics. We conducted a quality improvement intervention seeking to decrease empiric antibiotic administration in pediatric oncology patients with a central venous catheter presenting in the outpatient setting with non-neutropenic fever assessed to be low-risk for bacteremia. Over a 1-year period, empiric antibiotics were administered at the index visit in 9.6% of episodes, compared with 97% prior to the intervention. In patients not receiving empiric antibiotics, the bacteremia rate was 2.3% and composite event rate 5.1%, similar to pre-intervention baseline. These data suggest that empiric antibiotics can be withheld in low-risk patients with non-neutropenic fever.