Ciprofloxacin prophylaxis delays initiation of broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy and reduces the overall use of antimicrobial agents during induction therapy for acute leukaemia: A single-centre study

Abstract

Background Due to an outbreak of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, the routine use of fluoroquinolone prophylaxis was questioned. As a result, this study was conducted with the aim to evaluate the impact of ciprofloxacin-prophylaxis on the use of broad-spectrum antibioctics and anti-mycotics. Methods A cohort of 139 consecutive patients with acute leukaemia treated with remission-inducing induction chemotherapy between 2004–2012 at the Department of Haematology in Uppsala University Hospital was analysed. Results Fifty-three patients (38%) received broad-spectrum antibiotics at the initiation of chemotherapy and were not eligible for prophylaxis. Of the remaining patients, the initiation of broad-spectrum antibiotics was delayed by 3 days in those receiving ciprofloxacin prophylaxis (n = 47) compared with those receiving no prophylaxis (n = 39). The median duration of systemic antibiotic treatment was 6 days shorter in patients receiving ciprofloxacin prophylaxis (12 vs 18 days; p = 0.0005) and the cumulative (total) median days on systemic antibiotic treatment was shortened by 8 days (15 vs 23 days, p = 0.0008). Piperacillin/tazobactam (p = 0.02), carbapenems (p = 0.05) and empiric broad-spectrum antifungals (p < 0.01) were used significantly less often when ciprofloxacin prophylaxis was given. Conclusions Ciprofloxacin prophylaxis delayed empiric therapy by 3 days and reduced overall antibiotic use in this study. These benefits must be evaluated vs the risks of development of resistant bacterial strains, making fluoroquinolone prophylaxis an open question for debate.

Keywords:

• Fluoroquinolone
• ciprofloxacin
• prophylaxis
• acute leukaemia
• febrile neutropenia

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank David Ullman and study nurse Anna Dahlstedt for their thorough work regarding collection of data.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.