Degree of mucositis and duration of neutropenia are the major risk factors for early post-transplant febrile neutropenia and severe bacterial infections after reduced-intensity conditioning
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:: Whether the intensity of the conditioning regimen affects febrile neutropenia (FN) and severe bacterial infections (SBIs) is not well established. We analyzed the risk factors (RFs) for the development of FN and SBI in the first 100 d post-transplant in 195 consecutive adult recipients of a reduced-intensity conditioning allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (RIC-allo). MATERIALS AND METHODS:: The RIC regimens consisted of fludarabine plus melphalan (62%) or busulphan (38%) (FluMel or FluBu). SBIs include pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and bacteremia. RESULTS:: FN occurred in 141 patients (72%), always in the first 30 d post-allo-RIC. However, a SBI occurred in only 27 patients (14%) during this early post-transplant period (