Pneumonia (Jun 2019)

Treatment of community-onset pneumonia in neutropenic cancer patients: β-lactam monotherapy versus combination antibiotic regimens

  • Hyeri Seok,
  • Jae-Hoon Ko,
  • Kyong Ran Peck,
  • Ji-Yeon Kim,
  • Ji Hye Lee,
  • Ga Eun Park,
  • Sun Young Cho,
  • Cheol-In Kang,
  • Nam Yong Lee,
  • Doo Ryeon Chung

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s41479-019-0061-1
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 1
pp. 1 – 7

Abstract

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Abstract Background Although β-lactam monotherapy may be sufficient in non-critically ill patients with community-acquired pneumonia, the value of combination antibiotic regimens in community-onset neutropenic pneumonia remains unclear. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted to compare the effects of combination antibiotic regimens to those of β-lactam monotherapy in cancer patients with community-onset neutropenic pneumonia. Electronic medical records of patients diagnosed with community-onset neutropenic pneumonia between March 1995 and February 2015 at a tertiary care center were reviewed. Results During the study period, 165 cancer patients with community-onset neutropenic pneumonia were identified. Seventy-two patients received β-lactam monotherapy and 93 received combination therapy (β-lactam plus either a macrolide or fluoroquinolone). Causative pathogens were identified in 27.9% of the patients, and only two were positive for atypical pathogens. Although 30-day mortality was higher in the β-lactam group (15.3% versus 4.3%; P = 0.015), combination therapy was not associated with a statistically significant survival benefit in the multivariate analysis (hazard ratio 0.85, 95% confidence interval 0.20–3.67; P = 0.827). Duration of neutropenia, C-reactive protein level, and Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer risk index were significant factors for 30-day mortality. In a subgroup analysis of patients treated with cefepime, the most frequently used β-lactam (63.0%), combination therapy also showed no significant survival benefit. Conclusions Combination antibiotic regimens were not associated with a survival benefit over β-lactam monotherapy in the treatment of community-onset neutropenic pneumonia. Unnecessary combination therapy should be reconsidered in cancer patients who are at high risk for adverse drug reactions and colonization with multi-drug resistant organisms.

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