Summary: The first IDSA guidelines on the management of febrile neutropenia were published in 1997, with an update in 2002. The latest 2010 guidelines provide new recommendations for the management of these patients based on the latest randomized clinical trials and research data using antibiotics that are currently available. They improve definition and assessment of high- versus low-risk patients based the duration and intensity of neutropenia, as well as the presence of any comorbidities. In addition, they provide further stratification of patients in order to optimize individual patient management. Finally, the guidelines incorporate latest resistance data to ensure the most effective treatment protocols.