Caspofungin Acetate in Treating Children With Fever and Neutropenia

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Immunocompromised with one or more of the following conditions: * Leukemia, lymphoma, or other cancer * Underwent bone marrow or peripheral blood stem cell transplantation * Aplastic anemia * Planned chemotherapy likely to incur more than 10 days of neutropenia * Absolute neutrophil count no greater than 500/mm\^3 AND at least 1 recorded fever over 38.0 ° C within 24 hours of study * No proven invasive fungal infection at time of study entry * Superficial fungal infection (e.g., cutaneous fungal infection, thrush, or candidal vaginitis) treatable with topical antifungals allowed PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 2 to 17 Performance status: * Not specified Life expectancy: * At least 5 days Hematopoietic: * See Disease Characteristics * Hemodynamically stable with no hemodynamic compromise Hepatic: * AST or ALT no greater than 3 times upper limit of normal (ULN) * Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 5 times ULN (unless related to bony metastases or other suspected bony processes) * INR no greater than 1.6 (4.0 if receiving anticoagulants) * No acute hepatitis or cirrhosis Renal: * Not specified Other: * Functioning central venous catheter in place * No other condition or concurrent illness that would preclude study * No prior allergy, hypersensitivity, or serious reaction to echinocandin antifungals * HIV negative * Not pregnant or nursing * Negative pregnancy test * Fertile patients must use effective contraception other tha…