High-frequency temperature monitoring at home using a wearable device: A case series of early fever detection and antibiotic administration for febrile neutropenia with bacteremia

Abstract

We present a case series of three febrile episodes in neutropenic pediatric cancer patients who wore a Food and Drug Administration approved high-frequency temperature monitoring (HFTM) wearable device (WD) at home. The WD detected fever events when temperature monitoring by thermometer did not detect fever or was not feasible to perform. Two of the episodes were associated with bloodstream infections and the WD detected fevers 5 and 12 h prior to fevers detected by thermometer, triggering earlier medical evaluation and more prompt administration of antibiotics. These observations provide a basis for future investigation of home-based HFTM to improve infection-related outcomes in pediatric oncology.