Neutropenia

Topic: Medical-surgical

An abnormally low neutrophil count, usually an absolute neutrophil count below 1500/mm³; below 500/mm³ is severe. Chemotherapy is the most common cause. With too few cells to make pus or inflammation, infection shows few signs and fever may be the only clue: a single temperature of 38.3 °C (101 °F) or higher, or 38.0 °C (100.4 °F) or higher for an hour, is febrile neutropenia, an emergency needing cultures and IV antibiotics within an hour. Practice meticulous hand hygiene, avoid rectal temperatures, keep sick visitors away, and teach the client to report fever at once.

Also known as:

Febrile neutropenia, Neutropenic fever, Absolute neutrophil count, ANC

In Turkish:

Nötropeni