Vancomycin plus imipenem, ceftazidime or ciprofloxacin in second line therapy in patients with febrile neutropenia not responding to first line therapy

137 patients with febrile neutropenia after cytotoxic therapy not responding to ceftazidime plus amikacin or ceftriaxone plus netilmicin received additionally to the previous combination either vancomycin alone or combined with another anti-gram-negative compound: imipenem in those treated prophylactically with ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin in those without prophylaxis. The addition of vancomycin to the previously ineffective combination of a third generation cephalosporin plus aminoglycoside, and replacement of ceftriaxone plus netilmicin with ceftazidime plus amikacin plus vancomycin or with ceftazidime plus vancomycin seems to be less effective (71.8-75 vs. 87.5-90.9%, p < 0.02) and more toxic (20.5-47.2 vs. 0-5%, p < 0.0005) than vancomycin in combination with a different anti-gram-negative compound as previously used: imipenem or ciprofloxacin.