Adapting Supportive Care Guidelines from High-income Countries; Real World Data on Approach to Neutropenic Sepsis in Haemato-Oncology Patients in Sri Lanka

Abstract

BackgroundSepsis is the main cause of non-relapse mortality and there are no published data on applicability of supportive care protocols from high-income countries in Sri Lanka. The aim of the study was to investigate management and mortality of neutropenic episodes among Haemato-Oncology patients. MethodsWe analysed retrospectively clinical characteristics, management, morbidity and mortality of neutropenic adult Haemato-Oncology patients from 01.01.2019 to 31.12.2019. ResultsA total of 169 neutropenic episodes were identified; 115 (68%) of such episodes were related to chemotherapy. Acute leukaemia, Lymphoproliferative disorders and Plasma cell disorders accounted for 23%, 69% and 8% of patients respectively. The median age of patients who had sepsis was 56 while that of those who had no sepsis was 53 (p-value 0.49). Median time to neutropenia was 9 days for those in the sepsis group compared to 8 days in the group that had no sepsis (0.64). Median neutrophil count in the group who had sepsis was 0.06 while it was 0.69 in the group that had no sepsis (p-value 0.000). Median time to commencement of antibiotics was 20 minutes. There were no deaths in the group of chemotherapy induced neutropenic sepsis. ConclusionThis is the only documented study relating to outcome and successful applicability of western supportive care protocols to Sri Lankan patients with neutropenia. In this study we have shown that survival data comparable to developed countries can be achieved in the setting of limited resources with service development, following guidelines and staff training.