Frequent Respiratory Viral Infections in Children with Febrile Neutropenia - A Prospective Follow-Up Study

Söderman, Martina; Rhedin, Samuel; Tolfvenstam, Thomas; Rotzén-Östlund, Maria; Albert, Jan; Broliden, Kristina; Lindblom, Anna

Children aged 0-18 years, who were treated for a malignancy at the childhood cancer unit at Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital in Stockholm, Sweden, between January 2013 and June 2014, were eligible for enrollment in this study. All the patients who met the criteria for febrile neutropenia were asked to participate. Patients could be enrolled multiple times if recurrent episodes of febrile neutropenia occurred during the study period. To be enrolled for a new episode, the patient needed to have been afebrile for more than 72 hours and have completed the antibiotic treatment for the previous episode of febrile neutropenia. Febrile neutropenia was defined as a body temperature of 38.5°C on one occasion or 38.0°C on two occasions at least 60 minutes apart, combined with an absolute neutrophil count of either 0.5×10 9 /L on one occasion or 1.0×10 9 /L with a decline to less than 0.5×10 9 /L over a subsequent 48-hour period. Oral and written information regarding the study were provided to each patient prior to enrollment, and signed consents were obtained from their caretakers. The study was approved by the Regional Ethical Review Board in Stockholm.