A 52-year-old man presents to the emergency department for evaluation of a new-onset fever. He is currently on day 10 of induction chemotherapy with cytarabine and daunorubicin for acute myeloid leukemia. The patient reports feeling fatigued but specifically denies chills, cough, shortness of breath, abdominal pain, or dysuria. He is tolerating a normal diet and oral fluids. He lives in a ground-floor apartment with his wife, who is his primary caregiver, and they have reliable transportation located 15 minutes away from the hospital.
Temperature is 38.6°C (101.5°F), blood pressure is 124/78 mm Hg, pulse is 88/min, and respirations are 14/min. Pulse oximetry is 99% on room air.
Physical examination reveals a well-appearing man in no acute distress. Cardiopulmonary examination is unremarkable. There is a totally implantable venous access device in the right upper chest with no overlying erythema, induration, or tenderness. Skin examination shows no rashes or lesions.
Laboratory studies show:
Hemoglobin: 8.4 g/dL
Platelet count: 42,000/mm³
Leukocyte count: 300/mm³
Neutrophils: 5%
Bands: 0%
Lymphocytes: 85%
Monocytes: 10%
Serum creatinine: 0.9 mg/dL
Total bilirubin: 0.8 mg/dL
Alanine aminotransferase (ALT): 22 U/L
Based on the patient's clinical presentation and risk profile, which of the following is the most appropriate disposition and initial management?
- ADischarge to the patient's home with an oral regimen of ciprofloxacin and amoxicillin-clavulanate
- BDischarge to the patient's home and coordinate daily intravenous cefepime at an outpatient infusion center
- Admit the patient to a standard inpatient medical unit for empirical intravenous cefepimeCevap
- DAdmit the patient to an intermediate care unit for continuous telemetry and intravenous cefepime
- EAdmit the patient to the intensive care unit for empirical intravenous cefepime and vancomycin