Haematologica
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It is now evident that patients experiencing febrile neutropenia induced by chemotherapy do not constitute a homogeneous group. With increasing accuracy it is now possible to identify low-risk patients for whom less intensive and more convenient treatment may be appropriate. ⋯ The MASCC risk-index is a valuable tool for identifying febrile neutropenic patients at low risk for complications. Oral antibiotic treatment following discharge from the hospital 24 hours after defervescence offers a safe and cost-effective alternative to the conventional management of carefully selected low-risk patients.