The impact of cefepime as first line therapy for neutropenic fever on Clostridium difficile rates among hematology and oncology patients

After changing empiric treatment of febrile neutropenia from meropenem to cefepime, the effect on Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) was investigated. The change was assessed using an autoregressive model. A significant increase in CDI rates occurred following the introduction of cefepime. There may be an association between increased cefepime usage and CDI.