Administering Ceftriaxone in Febrile Patients with Elevated Neutrophils

Assessment and Treatment

• Fever and chills with elevated neutrophils suggest an infectious process requiring prompt antibiotic therapy, and blood cultures should be obtained before antibiotic administration, as these symptoms are specific indications for blood cultures 1
• Elevated neutrophils with left shift is a clinical parameter independently correlated with bacteremia 2
• If the patient becomes afebrile and neutrophil count normalizes, antibiotics can typically be discontinued after 48 hours of being afebrile, according to the European Society for Medical Oncology 3
• For persistent fever despite appropriate therapy, consider broadening antibiotic coverage or seeking infectious disease consultation, as recommended by the European Society for Medical Oncology 4