Effectiveness and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles during primary antimicrobial prophylaxis for pediatric acute myeloid leukemia.

Limited data are available on antimicrobials exposure and microbiology evolution in pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients underwent antimicrobials prophylaxis. To assess the effectiveness of antimicrobials prophylaxis, antibiotic susceptibilities of bacteria, and exposure of antimicrobials during intensive chemotherapy for AML patients, 90 consecutive de novo AML patients aged 0-18 years between January 1, 1997 and March 31, 2018 were enrolled. Vancomycin, ciprofloxacin and voriconazole prophylaxis was administered from January 1, 2010. During the preprophylaxis period, January 1997 to December 2009, 62 patients experienced a total of 87 episodes of bloodstream infection (BSI) and 17 episodes of invasive fungal infection (IFI) among 502 courses of chemotherapy. In contrast, 16 episodes of BSI occurred and no IFIs were reported to occur in 28 patients who received 247 courses of chemotherapy in the prophylaxis period. Patients who received antimicrobial prophylaxis had a significant reduction of BSI, IFI, and febrile neutropenia in comparison with patients without prophylaxis. Exposure to amikacin, carbapenem, amphotericin B was reduced in the prophylaxis period. Imipenem susceptibility of Enterobacter cloacae as well as vancomycin susceptibility of Enterococcus species were reduced in the prophylaxis period. At the time of the last follow up, patients with prophylaxis had a better subsequent 5-year overall survival rate than those without prophylaxis. Prophylactic antimicrobials administration in children with AML who undergo chemotherapy can significantly reduce the rates of life-threatening infection, exposure to antimicrobials, and might result in a better outcome.

Efficacy and safety of denosumab therapy for low bone mineral density in childhood cancer survivors: A report of preliminary experience.

BACKGROUND: In childhood cancer survivors, low bone mineral density (BMD) is a bone-related consequence. Efficacy of denosumab, an effective therapy for adult patients with osteoporosis, remains unclear in children. This study aimed to investigate denosumab therapy efficacy for low BMD in childhood cancer survivors. PROCEDURE: Between January 2014 and January 2018, we monitored lumbar BMD of children with cancer using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry after completing chemotherapy with a 6-month interval. For patients with low BMD, defined as height-adjusted Z-scores of BMD < -1.5 in this study, calcium carbonate and vitamin D supplements were initially administered. When low BMD continued for at least 6 months, denosumab therapy was introduced. Calcium and vitamin D supplementation were continued in patients on denosumab. We investigated BMD change and adverse effects during denosumab therapy. RESULTS: During the study period, 20 patients received denosumab treatment. Mean height-adjusted Z-score of BMD before denosumab treatment was -2.68 but increased to -2, -1.96, and -1.33 at 0.5, 1, and 1.5 years after denosumab treatment, respectively (P = .012). In addition, hypocalcemia occurred in 40% (8/20) of patients; three patients had hypocalcemic symptoms with numbness in all four limbs. All hypocalcemic patients, except one patient who died due to relapsed leukemia, recovered well after continuous calcium supplementation. CONCLUSIONS: Denosumab is an effective treatment for low BMD in childhood cancer survivors. However, the complication of hypocalcemia might develop posttreatment.

Severe infections in children with acute leukemia undergoing intensive chemotherapy can successfully be prevented by ciprofloxacin, voriconazole, or micafungin prophylaxis.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the current study was to prevent bloodstream infection and invasive fungal infection (IFI) by administering prophylactic antibiotic and antifungal agents during intensive chemotherapy in patients being treated for acute leukemia. METHODS: Prophylaxis treatment was administered during intensive chemotherapy in children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2012. Oral ciprofloxacin (at a dose of 300 mg/m(2) /12 hours) was administered after chemotherapy when a patient with AML or ALL became neutropenic and > 7 days of neutropenia was expected. Voriconazole (at a dose of 4 mg/kg/12 hours) was initiated at the onset of neutropenia in patients with AML and after 7 days of neutropenia in patients with ALL. Micafungin (at a dose of 2 mg/kg/day) was substituted for voriconazole when patients with ALL received vincristine. Prophylaxis treatment was discontinued when the absolute neutrophil count recovered to > 100/µL. All episodes of bloodstream infection, IFI, febrile neutropenia, and intensive care unit stays related to severe infection occurring between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2012 were recorded. RESULTS: During the preprophylaxis period, 62 children with ALL and 24 children with AML experienced a total of 44 episodes of bloodstream infection and 22 episodes of IFI. Seven patients died of severe infection. In contrast, in the prophylaxis period, 10 episodes of bloodstream infection occurred and no IFIs were reported to occur in 51 patients with ALL and 14 patients with AML. Moreover, no patient died of severe infection. Episodes of febrile neutropenia and intensive care unit stay were significantly reduced during the prophylaxis period. CONCLUSIONS: Prophylaxis with ciprofloxacin and voriconazole or micafungin was found to reduce the rates of bloodstream infection and IFI in children with acute leukemia undergoing intensive chemotherapy.

Recombinant urate oxidase (rasburicase) for the prevention and treatment of tumor lysis syndrome in patients with hematologic malignancies.

In this multicenter, nonrandomized, open-label clinical trial conducted from July 2003 to July 2004, recombinant urate oxidase (rasburicase) was administered to patients at risk for tumor lysis syndrome before or during the initiation of chemotherapy. Forty-five patients were enrolled, including 18 children (10 with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, 6 with high-grade lymphoma, and 2 with acute myeloid leukemia) and 27 adults (8 with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, 4 with high-grade lymphoma, 9 with multiple myeloma, and 6 with acute myeloid leukemia). The age ranged from 3 to 98 years, with a median age of 7 years in children and 59.3 years in adults. There were 14 males and 4 females in the pediatric group and 18 males and 9 females in the adult group. Rasburicase 0.2 mg/kg was administered intravenously once a day for 2-6 days, for a median of 3 days in children and of 4 days in adults. After 3 days of treatment, the median uric acid levels in the 18 children decreased from 10.5 mg/dl (range 8-18.6) to 0.5 mg/dl (range 0.0-1.7). Similarly, in the 27 adults, the median levels decreased from 10.8 mg/dl (range 8-24.4) to 0.5 mg/dl (range 0.0-1.6). No significant changes were observed in serum potassium, calcium, and phosphorus concentrations. None of the patients required dialysis for acute renal failure. Rasburicase was very well tolerated, with only 1 adult having grade 1 vomiting. We conclude that rasburicase is safe and highly effective for preventing the complications of tumor lysis syndrome in patients with hematologic malignancies.