Results of a recent Phase 3 study suggest that preventative treatment with certain oral antibiotics does not significantly decrease the rate of bacterial infections among newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients receiving initial treatment.

In the study, myeloma patients who received prophylactic (preventative) antibiotics during the first two months of chemotherapy experienced statistically similar rates of infections during those two months and for up to two years following chemotherapy as patients who did not receive antibiotics.

“Unfortunately, prophylactic antibiotics did not significantly decrease the risk of infection,” said Dr. David Vesole from the …

A group of leading myeloma specialists, known as the International Myeloma Working Group, recently collaborated to develop guidelines for the prevention of infections in multiple myeloma patients. The group recommends that patients receive inactivated vaccines for the flu, hepatitis B, and polio as early in the disease as possible. Patients at high-risk of developing infections can be given medications to prevent infections.

Dr. Elias Anaissie of the Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences presented these guidelines at the International Myeloma Workshop (IMW) in Paris …

A group of Italian researchers found that elevated monoclonal protein levels and decreased platelet counts are associated with an increased risk of severe infection in multiple myeloma patients treated with thalidomide-based combination therapies.

The researchers also showed that patients who were at a low or intermediate risk for severe infections did not benefit from preventative treatment with antibiotics.

“I think it is reasonable to stop taking prophylaxis in low-intermediate risk patients,” said Dr. Massimo Offidani, lead author of the study. “If a patient is at a high risk of infection, thalidomide and …