febrile neutropenia
Also written as: FN — febrile neutropenia
A medical emergency characterized by fever in the setting of severe neutropenia, indicating high risk for life-threatening infection.
Full Definition
Febrile neutropenia is defined as a single oral temperature ≥38.3°C (101°F) or temperature ≥38.0°C (100.4°F) sustained for one hour in a patient with an absolute neutrophil count <500 cells/μL or expected to decline below 500 cells/μL within 48 hours. This condition represents a medical emergency in cancer patients as the compromised immune system cannot mount adequate inflammatory responses to contain infections. Immediate broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy is required, as delays in treatment can result in rapid progression to sepsis and death. Risk stratification helps guide whether outpatient oral antibiotics or hospitalization with intravenous therapy is appropriate.
Usage
Usage note: Commonly abbreviated as FN. Requires immediate medical attention - delays in antibiotic administration increase mortality risk.
In Context
- "The oncology team initiated empirical antibiotics immediately upon diagnosis of febrile neutropenia." — Emergency department note
- "Risk assessment tools help stratify patients with febrile neutropenia for appropriate treatment settings." — Clinical guidelines