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Instructors can request access to the Casebook Instructor's Guide on AccessPharmacy. Email User Services (userservices@mheducation.com) for more information.
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After completing this case study, the reader should be able to:
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Construct a prudent empiric antibiotic regimen for a febrile neutropenic patient.
Determine appropriate situations to use vancomycin in empiric antimicrobial regimens for the treatment of febrile neutropenic episodes.
Describe situations in which antibiotic monotherapy versus combination therapy would be warranted in the empiric treatment of febrile neutropenia.
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“I have a fever and chills.”
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Scarlet Hives is a 60-year-old woman with a history of IgG kappa multiple myeloma who is undergoing an autologous hematopoietic cell transplant. Her stem cells were collected by peripheral blood collection, which were mobilized with cyclophosphamide and filgrastim. During collection she developed a vesicular rash involving her left lower abdominal quadrant, which was documented by PCR analysis to be herpes zoster. This was treated with valacyclovir. Her preparative regimen for transplant was high-dose melphalan, followed by stem cell rescue with her peripheral blood stem cells. Eight days after stem cell infusion, she spiked a fever of 38.6°C (101.5°F). She now also complains of chills and nausea.
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Hysterectomy—17 years ago
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Mother died of CAD at early age; father died at age 67 from lung cancer; has one sister and one brother, both living and well.
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High school cafeteria manager of 22 years, now retired. She is married and lives with her husband. She has three children. Denies smoking or ethanol use.
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Esomeprazole 40 mg PO once daily
Atorvastatin 80 mg PO once daily
Fentanyl patch 75 mcg Q 48 H
Neurontin 800 mg PO TID
Lisinopril 5 mg PO once daily
Metoprolol 75 mg PO BID
Multivitamin PO once daily
Oxycodone IR 15 mg Q 6 H PRN pain
Pioglitazone 15 mg PO once daily
Promethazine 25 mg PO Q 6 H PRN nausea
Valacyclovir 500 mg PO once daily, after previously completing 1,000 mg TID × 7 days for treatment course
Fluconazole 400 mg PO once daily
Levofloxacin 500 mg PO once daily
Filgrastim 480 mcg subcutaneously daily
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(+) Fever/chills, (+) nausea; denies vomiting, cough, diarrhea
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Patient is a 60-year-old Caucasian woman who appears alert and oriented
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