Neutropenia Therapy Management & Medication Treatment

Neutropenia

Neutrophils (granulocytes) are the body’s main defense against bacterial infections and fungal infections. When neutropenia is present, the inflammatory response to such infections is ineffective.

Normal lower limit of the neutrophil count ranges from 1200-1500/μL. Neutrophil counts are not as stable as other cell counts and may vary considerably over short periods, depending on many factors such as activity status, anxiety, infections, and drugs. Thus, several measurements may be needed when determining the severity of neutropenia.

Severity of neutropenia

Severity of neutropenia relates to the relative risk of infection and is classified as follows:

Mild (1000 to 1500/μL)
Moderate (500 to 1000/μL)
Severe (<500/μL)

When neutrophil counts fall to <500/μL, endogenous microbial flora (eg, in the mouth or gut) can cause infections. If the count falls to < 200/μL, inflammatory response may be muted and the usual inflammatory findings of leukocytosis or WBCs in the urine or at the site of infection may not occur. Acute, severe neutropenia, particularly if another factor (eg, cancer) is present, significantly impairs the immune system and can lead to rapidly fatal infections. The integrity of the skin and mucous membranes, the vascular supply to tissue, and the nutritional status of the patient also influence the risk of infections.