Low-Risk Fever and Neutropenia
Clinical Pathways promote evidence based, safe, and high-value care for patients by providing clinical recommendations and standard processes. They are developed by multidisciplinary committees of subject matter experts, informed by methodical review of available evidence and consensus among committee members.
Clinical Pathway:
- Low-Risk Fever and Neutropenia Evaluation and Treatment Algorithm
- Low-Risk Fever and Neutropenia Clinical Pathway Synopsis (provides care standards employed for this clinical pathway)
Inclusion and exclusion criteria:
- Inclusion:
- Oncology patients presenting to Oncology Clinic or Adele Hall Emergency Department (ED) with fever and suspected neutropenia AND one of the following diagnoses:
- Acute lymphoblastic leukemia or lymphoma in maintenance phase of therapy
- Solid tumor/brain tumor
- Hodgkin's lymphoma
- Langerhans cell histiocytosis
- Oncology patients presenting to Oncology Clinic or Adele Hall Emergency Department (ED) with fever and suspected neutropenia AND one of the following diagnoses:
- Exclusion:
Committee members involved in the development:
- Joel Thompson, MD | Hematology/Oncology/BMT Department | Committee Chair
- Karen Lewing, MD | Hematology/Oncology/BMT Department | Committee Member
- Lindsey Fricke, RN, MSN, FNP-BC, CPHON | Hematology/Oncology/BMT Department | Committee Member
- Leslie Hueschen, MD | Emergency Department | Committee Member
- Stephanie Clark, MD | Emergency Department | Committee Member
EBP Committee Members:
- Kathleen Berg, MD, FAAP | Evidence Based Practice
- Kori Hess, PharmD | Evidence Based Practice
- Kelli Ott, OTD, OTR/L | Evidence Based Practice
Publication dates:
- Finalized date: 11/2023
- Next expected revision date: 11/2026
If you have any questions regarding this content or identify a broken link, please email evidencebasedpractice@cmh.edu.
These pathways do not establish a standard of care to be followed in every case. It is recognized that each case is different, and those individuals involved in providing health care are expected to use their judgment in determining what is in the best interests of the patient based on the circumstances existing at the time. It is impossible to anticipate all possible situations that may exist and to prepare a pathway for each. Accordingly, these pathways should guide care with the understanding that departures from them may be required at times.