Preventing Infections During Cancer Treatment

Abstract

Despite advances in oncology care, infections from both community and healthcare settings remain a major cause of hospitalization and death among patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy. Neutropenia (low white blood cell count) is a common and potentially dangerous side effect in patients receiving chemotherapy treatments and may lead to higher risk of infection. Preventing infection during treatment can result in significant decreases in morbidity and mortality for patients with cancer. As part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) Preventing Infections in Cancer Patients public health campaign, a public-private partnership was formed between the CDC Foundation and Amgen, Inc. The CDC’s Division of Cancer Prevention and Control developed and launched an interactive website, www.PreventCancerInfections.org, designed for patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy. The site encourages patients to complete a risk assessment for developing neutropenia during their treatment. After completing the assessment, patients receive information about how to lower the risk for infection and keep themselves healthy while receiving chemotherapy.

<p>Validation of Risk of Chemotherapy-Induced Neutropenia: Experience from Oncology Hospital of Nepal</p>

“…28 Educational programs directed toward this population may reduce the risk of preventable infections and decrease morbidity and mortality. 29 Similarly, the involvement of clinical pharmacists can improve patient care. 30 Since the grade of neutropenia and outcome of the condition were significantly associated with each other (p-value 0.017), ie, majority (133, 66.5%) grade 4 neutropenic patients were recovering after the chemotherapy cycles, prediction of neutropenic attack could have been made.…”

Hybrid Clustered Nanoparticles for Chemo-Antibacterial Combinatorial Cancer Therapy

“…Clinical practice indicates that cytotoxic therapeutic molecules are most effective when provided in combination, in order to realize synergistic or additive outcomes [1,2], even though important side effects [3], such as cardiotoxicity and bone marrow suppression [4,5], are reported. An underestimated important consequence of chemotherapy is represented by infections after treatment that remain the main cause of hospitalization and death amongst most patients [6]. Combinatorial cancer therapy, with the aim to prevent infection and to specifically kill cancer cells, can result in important cutbacks in morbidity and mortality for cancer patients.…”