{"entity":{"id":"neutropenic-sepsis-breast-chemotherapy","kind":"term","name":"Neutropenic sepsis: the temperature rule and the 999 signs","aka":["neutropenic sepsis","sepsis on chemotherapy"],"tldr":"During chemotherapy for triple-negative breast cancer a temperature over 37.5 C or below 36 C, shivering, or feeling unwell even with a normal temperature means ringing the hospital's 24-hour line straight away; breathing very fast, confusion, mottled skin or no urine in a day means 999.","summary":"NICE CG151 says to suspect neutropenic sepsis in anyone having anticancer treatment who becomes unwell, to refer immediately, and to treat it as an acute medical emergency with antibiotics straight away; it defines it as a neutrophil count of 0.5 or lower with a temperature above 38 C or other signs of sepsis. Macmillan's earlier signs to ring the 24-hour helpline: temperature over 37.5 C (99.5 F) or below 36 C, or symptoms of a urine, chest, skin or tooth infection; its 999 list: slurred speech or confusion, extreme shivering or muscle pain, passing no urine in a day, severe shortness of breath, feeling the worst you ever have, skin that is mottled or discoloured. The NHS says do not drive to A&E; ask someone to drive you or call 999. This is orientation from public patient pages and guidelines, not advice for your case: your own team's instructions and 24-hour number come first.","asOf":"2026-09-24","links":[{"label":"NICE CG151: neutropenic sepsis","url":"https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg151"},{"label":"Macmillan: sepsis","url":"https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/impacts-of-cancer/sepsis"},{"label":"NHS: sepsis","url":"https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sepsis/"},{"label":"NHS: when to use 111","url":"https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/urgent-and-emergency-care-services/when-to-use-111/"},{"label":"NHS: when to call 999","url":"https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/urgent-and-emergency-care-services/when-to-call-999/"}],"tags":[],"related":[],"cancers":["tnbc"],"sections":[],"technologies":[],"targets":[],"drugs":["carboplatin","paclitaxel","sacituzumab-govitecan"],"companies":[],"institutions":[],"pathways":[],"terms":["neutropenia","febrile-neutropenia"],"trials":[],"people":[],"bottlenecks":[],"keyPapers":[],"journals":[],"dependsOn":[],"notes":[],"category":"Side effects"},"route":"/terms/neutropenic-sepsis-breast-chemotherapy/","neighbours":{"cancer":[{"id":"tnbc","kind":"cancer","name":"Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC)","route":"/cancers/tnbc/"}],"drug":[{"id":"carboplatin","kind":"drug","name":"Carboplatin","route":"/drugs/carboplatin/"},{"id":"paclitaxel","kind":"drug","name":"Paclitaxel / nab-paclitaxel","route":"/drugs/paclitaxel/"},{"id":"sacituzumab-govitecan","kind":"drug","name":"Sacituzumab govitecan","route":"/drugs/sacituzumab-govitecan/"}],"term":[{"id":"febrile-neutropenia","kind":"term","name":"Febrile neutropenia","route":"/terms/febrile-neutropenia/"},{"id":"neutropenia","kind":"term","name":"Neutropenia","route":"/terms/neutropenia/"}]}}