What criteria should I use to determine whether a patient with neutropenic sepsis requires hospital admission?

Arrange immediate hospital assessment for any person with suspected neutropenic sepsis, especially if they are unwell or have high-risk features, and treat as an acute medical emergency with empiric antibiotics ¹.

Patients with suspected neutropenic sepsis should be transferred to secondary or tertiary care immediately, particularly if they are critically unwell or show signs of clinical concern, such as abnormal vital signs or deterioration ².

Use clinical judgment to determine if the person is at high risk of severe illness or death from sepsis; if so, they require hospital admission for urgent assessment and management ³.

Patients with neutropenic sepsis who are clinically stable and assessed as low risk of septic complications may be considered for outpatient management, but this decision should be based on risk scoring and clinical judgment, with clear instructions to return to hospital if symptoms worsen ¹.