INTRODUCTIONFebrile neutropenia (FN) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Oncology/Haematology units. We launched a new protocol for FN management that incorporates risk stratification at our institute from October 2008. An audit was performed concurrently to evaluate the protocol and to define the epidemiology of FN locally.

MATERIALS AND METHODSCase records of all inpatients with FN between October 2008 and June 2009 were reviewed prospectively. Clinical and microbiological characteristics were collated along with outcomes and programme adherence. Statistical testing was performed using Stata 10.1.

RESULTSThere were 178 FN episodes (50 in patients with solid cancers) from 131 patients. Forty-two (23.6%) episodes were classified as high-risk according to MASCC criteria. Initial blood cultures were positive in 49 (27.5%) episodes, of which gram-negative bacilli (GNB) predominated. Overall compliance to the protocol was 56.7%, with the main issue being disinclination to use oral antibiotics as fi rst-line empirical therapy for low-risk episodes. Overall mortality was 7.3% and infection-related mortality was 4.5%. High-risk FN and the presence of central venous catheters were independently associated with bacteraemia on multivariate analysis, but there were no independent predictors of infection-related mortality.

CONCLUSIONSGNB accounted for the majority of bloodstream infections at our institute, unlike data from developed countries. Uptake of the new FN protocol was satisfactory, although the use of oral antibiotics as fi rst-line empirical therapy can be improved. A better method for predicting infections caused by antibiotic-resistant GNB is urgently required, and antibiotic resistance trends should be monitored to enable the implementation of more appropriate antibiotic regimens over time.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Drug Resistance, Microbial ; Female ; Fever ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Gram-Negative Bacteria ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Male ; Medical Audit ; Middle Aged ; Neutropenia ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Prospective Studies ; Severity of Illness Index ; Singapore ; Young Adult

Adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) is a rare systemic inflammatory disease characterized by spiking fever, arthralgia, salmon pink rash, neutrophilic leukocytosis, and multi-organ involvement. Although renal involvement may appear in some cases of adult Still's disease, onset over 70 years of age with renal involvement has not been described. We report a 73-years-old woman whose illness manifested with fever of unknown origin, massive proteinuria, and multiple lymph nodes enlargement. With proteinuria of 2,650 mg/day, a renal biopsy was performed, and histopathological evaluation yielded the diagnosis of chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN). After excluding infectious disease, malignancy, and other rheumatic disease, AOSD was diagnosed with symptoms including fever over 39.0degrees C for more than a week, leukocytosis, generalized lymphadenopathy, and negative autoantibodies. Proteinuria and fever were improved markedly by high dose glucocorticoids and methotrexate therapy.
Adult ; Arthralgia ; Autoantibodies ; Biopsy ; Communicable Diseases ; Diagnosis ; Exanthema ; Female ; Fever ; Fever of Unknown Origin ; Glomerulonephritis ; Glucocorticoids ; Humans ; Leukocytosis ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Methotrexate ; Neutrophils ; Proteinuria ; Rheumatic Diseases ; Salmon ; Still's Disease, Adult-Onset*

INTRODUCTIONFebrile neutropenia (FN) is a significant cause of mortality and morbidity in oncology and haematology units worldwide. The overall mortality in hospital surveys in Singapore surveys on post-chemotherapy FN has ranged between 3.0% and 8.8%. However, recent evidence indicates that outpatient management of patients with low-risk FN is safe and cost-effective.

MATERIALS AND METHODSWe conducted a prospective audit on a cohort of adult patients with post-chemotherapy FN seen at 2 local public sector cancer centres over a 1-year period in order to define their epidemiological characteristics and outcomes, and also to assess the uptake of early discharge/outpatient management strategies for these patients.

RESULTSWe reviewed 306 FN episodes from 248 patients. Patient characteristics and outcomes were similar between both institutions. Eleven (3.7%) FN episodes were managed as outpatient and none developed complications. Overall 30-day mortality was 6.6%, while the median length of stay (LOS) was 7 days (IQR: 4 to 11 days). The only independent risk factor for mortality was severe sepsis (OR:13.19; 95% CI: 1.98 to 87.7; P = 0.008). Factors independently associated with a longer LOS were vancomycin prescription (coefficient: 0.25; 95% CI: 0.08 to 0.41; P = 0.003), longer duration of intravenous antibiotics (coefficient: 0.08; 95% CI: 0.06 to 0.10; P <0.001), and prior review by an infectious diseases physician (coefficient: 0.16; 95% CI: 0.01 to 0.31; P = 0.034).

CONCLUSIONThis audit demonstrated that mortality from FN in our 2 cancer centres is low and comparable to international institutions. It also demonstrates that outpatient management of FN is safe in selected patients, and can be further expanded for right-siting of resources.

Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Agents ; adverse effects ; Bacterial Infections ; epidemiology ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Fever ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mycoses ; epidemiology ; Neoplasms ; complications ; drug therapy ; Neutropenia ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Prospective Studies ; Singapore ; epidemiology

We investigated the protective effects of chlorogenic acid (CGA), a polyphenol compound, on oxidative damage induced by UVB exposure on human HaCaT cells. In a cell-free system, CGA scavenged 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radicals, superoxide anions, hydroxyl radicals, and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by hydrogen peroxide and ultraviolet B (UVB). Furthermore, CGA absorbed electromagnetic radiation in the UVB range (280-320 nm). UVB exposure resulted in damage to cellular DNA, as demonstrated in a comet assay; pre-treatment of cells with CGA prior to UVB irradiation prevented DNA damage and increased cell viability. Furthermore, CGA pre-treatment prevented or ameliorated apoptosis-related changes in UVB-exposed cells, including the formation of apoptotic bodies, disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential, and alterations in the levels of the apoptosis-related proteins Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-3. Our findings suggest that CGA protects cells from oxidative stress induced by UVB radiation.
Apoptosis ; Caspase 3 ; Cell Survival ; Cell-Free System ; Chlorogenic Acid* ; Comet Assay ; DNA ; DNA Damage ; Electromagnetic Radiation ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; Keratinocytes* ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; Oxidative Stress* ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Superoxides