Chemoprophylaxis of bacterial infections in granulocytopenic patients with ciprofloxacin.

The trial was conducted to evaluate the antimicrobial prophylactic efficacy of ciprofloxacin in reducing the frequency of infections in granulocytopenic patients. The frequency of infections was evaluated in 34 patients with acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, blast crisis of chronic myelogenous leukemia and other malignancies. 46 courses of oral prophylactic treatment with 500 mg ciprofloxacin twice daily were administered. While there was no infection in 61% of treatment courses, fever over 38 degrees C (axillary) occurred in 39%. 6 patients had a fungal pulmonary infection, one patient a supposed viral pneumonia, and only two patients had a documented bacterial infection. There were no severe side effects. We conclude that ciprofloxacin is a potent drug in prophylaxis of bacterial infections in cancer patients with therapy-induced granulocytopenia.