Cefepime versus ceftazidime + amikacin as empirical therapy for febrile neutropenia in children with cancer: a prospective randomized trial of the treatment efficacy and cost

This is a critical abstract of an economic evaluation that meets the criteria for inclusion on NHS EED. Each abstract contains a brief summary of the methods, the results and conclusions followed by a detailed critical assessment on the reliability of the study and the conclusions drawn. Cefepime monotherapy was as effective as the ceftazidime plus amikacin combination for the treatment of febrile neutropenia in paediatric cancer patients. It must be preferred because of the shorter defervescence of fever, shorter hospitalisation and lower therapy cost.