people
When you’re neutropenic it’s best to avoid being around people who have colds, sore throats, flu, diarrhoea or any kind of infection such as chickenpox or measles. If you come into contact with anyone like this, it’s best to ask your hospital doctor or specialist nurse for advice, as you might need medicines to prevent you from getting the infection.
During, or for a little while after cancer treatment:
- avoid public transport, especially during the rush hour
- avoid crowded places like shopping centres or cinemas
- avoid going swimming or using public jacuzzis
- avoid handling any animal waste (like your pet’s litter tray)
hygiene
One of the best ways of avoiding infection is to keep yourself clean and fresh. A lot of the infections that people get are caused by bacteria that normally live in our bodies and skin anyway but when you are neutropenic, they can become harmful.
- It’s a good idea to have a shower or bath each day but don’t share towels or flannels with other people in your family.
- Always wash your hands when you’ve been to the toilet and before you are about to prepare or eat food.
- You’ll need to take extra care to keep your mouth clean. Use a soft toothbrush (a hard one might make your gums bleed which can increase the risk of infection). Your doctor might prescribe antiseptic mouthwashes or anti-fungal mouthwashes or lozenges. If you use these regularly, they can help prevent infection.
Unfortunately, even if you do all these things, you can still get an infection but hopefully it will prevent you from getting a really bad one.
eating and drinking
Drinking plenty of fluids can help to prevent infection because it helps to keep your mouth moist and healthy and flushes out your kidneys and bladder to prevent bacteria growing. Because your immunity is low, you need to be careful that your food doesn’t contain bacteria that could harm you so make sure that
- all fruits and vegetables are well washed or peeled
- all cooked food is piping hot when it comes to the table
- you avoid shellfish and soft cheeses
- you wash your hands really well in warm soapy water after using the toilet and before eating
