Neutropenic fever
NCLEX-RN glossary · Safety And Infection Prevention And Control
Definition
An oncologic emergency defined as an elevated temperature in a patient with a significantly low absolute neutrophil count (ANC), typically following chemotherapy.
Neutropenic fever in plain English
It requires immediate administration of broad-spectrum anti-infectives; delays can lead to rapid deterioration, septic shock, and multisystem organ failure. A frequent error is waiting for secondary laboratory confirmation or a full physical assessment before initiating the priority action of administering the first dose of antibiotics.
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