In the study, empirical antimicrobial therapy (EAT) was started according to local protocols and following international guidelines and recommendations. For the experimental group, EAT was withdrawn after 72 hours or more of apyrexia plus clinical recovery; for the control group, treatment was withdrawn when the neutrophil count was also ≥0.5 × 109 cells per L. The mean number of EAT-free days was significantly higher in the experimental group (16.1 vs 13.6; p=0.026). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in number of adverse events reported.