Levofloxacin Compared With Cefepime in Treating Cancer Patients With Fever and Neutropenia

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Diagnosis of malignancy Solid tumor (including lymphoma) or leukemia Hospitalized and anticipated to remain hospitalized during study Febrile defined as oral temperature of at least 100.4 degrees F (38 degrees C) on 2 occasions within 24 hours OR at least 100.8 degrees F (38.2 degrees C) on a single reading No obvious noninfectious cause of fever (e.g., platelet transfusion) Neutropenic, defined as absolute neutrophil count (ANC) currently less than 500/mm3 OR anticipated to be less than 500/mm3 within 24 hours of study entry Anticipated ANC to be less than 500/mm3 for at least 72 hours No neutropenia unassociated with malignancy No chronic neutropenia No neutropenia anticipated to last more than 14 days No acute myelogenous leukemia unless receiving consolidation chemotherapy or induction dose that does not prolong neutropenia for more than 3 weeks No infection due to an identified organism No high likelihood of infection due to anaerobic organisms, including intra-abdominal infections or perirectal abscess at admission No known osteomyelitis No requirement for new antifungal agent

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: Not specified Life expectancy: At least 14 days Hematopoietic: See Disease Characteristics Hepatic: Not specified Renal: Creatinine clearance at least 20 mL/min No oliguria (urine output less than 20 mL/hour) unresponsive to fluid challenge Cardiovascular: No shock or hypotension (supine systolic blood pressure less than 80 mmHg) unresponsive to fluid challenge Other: Not pregnant or nursing Negative pregnancy test Fertile patients must use effective contraception No HIV infection with CD4 counts less than 200/mm3 No significant risk for seizures No unstable psychiatric disorder Weight greater than 40 kg No prior allergic or severe adverse reaction to study drugs or to any member of the quinolone or beta-lactam class of antibacterials No disorder or disease that would preclude study

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: No prior sargramostim (GM-CSF) or filgrastim (G-CSF) for current course of chemotherapy Concurrent GM-CSF or G-CSF allowed if neutropenia lasts at least 3 days Chemotherapy: See Disease Characteristics Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: Not specified Surgery: Not specified Other: No prior treatment under this protocol No prior prophylactic anti-infectives other than acyclovir or sulfamethoxazole with trimethoprim At least 72 hours since prior systemic antibiotics (except prophylactic sulfamethoxazole with trimethoprim) At least 30 days since prior experimental drug or medical device (except drugs currently marketed in the United States for the treatment of the malignancy) No other concurrent systemic antibacterial agents No concurrent topical antimicrobial agents