Patients with leukaemia and other blood cancers are at high risk of infection because both the disease itself and treatments weaken the immune system. Chemotherapy, which may be given to try and cure the cancer or to stop it getting worse, often reduces the number of white blood cells that help fight infection. When this low white blood cell count (neutropenia) persists, even minor infections can become serious or life-threatening.
As a result, patients with neutropenia are frequently treated with antibiotics that can kill many different types of bacteria, often for long periods. However, it is not clear how long antibiotics need to be continued once an infection has stabilised or if no clear source of the infection is identified. Longer courses of antibiotics may increase the risk of side effects, antibiotic resistance, and disruption of normal bacteria, while shorter courses may be equally effective but are not yet well supported by evidence.
In this study, we will investigate patients with blood cancers who develop persistent neutropenia and receive antibiotics. Using routinely collected clinical data, we will compare outcomes in patients who receive different durations of antibiotic treatment. To ensure fair comparisons between groups, we will use a statistical approach which helps account for differences in patient characteristics and illness severity.
The findings from this study could help determine whether shorter courses of antibiotics are safe and effective in selected patients with persistent neutropenia. This may support more personalised antibiotic use, reduce unnecessary antibiotic exposure, and improve patient care while maintaining safety.