رجل عمره ٥٥ سنة مصاب بسرطان الدم، أخذ علاجاً كيميائياً قبل ٩ أيام. حرارته الآن ٣٨٫٤، والنبض ١١٢، والضغط ١٠٨/٦٤، وعدد العدلات ٣٠٠. يبدو بخير ولا يشتكي إلا من قشعريرة. ما الإجراء؟

A 55-year-old with leukaemia had chemotherapy 9 days ago. He now has T 38.4 °C, HR 112, BP 108/64 and neutrophils 0.3 ×10⁹/L. He looks well apart from chills. What is done?

1. Encourage oral fluids only
2. Wait for culture results before antibiotics
3. An antipyretic and observe till morning
4. Blood cultures and IV antibiotics within an hour

Answer: D) Blood cultures and IV antibiotics within an hour. Neutropenic fever is an emergency and usual signs of infection may be absent; broad-spectrum antibiotics are given within an hour after cultures.