Patient website and infection control plan developed for outpatient oncology clinics

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is introducing two new educational resources as part of the Preventing Infections in Cancer Patients program.

The comprehensive program, first announced in 2009, provides information, action steps and tools for patients, their caregivers and their clinicians to reduce the risk of potentially life-threatening infections during chemotherapy. The new resources include an interactive website for cancer patients and caregivers, and a Basic Infection Control and Prevention Plan for Outpatient Oncology Settings.

The website, 3 Steps Toward Preventing Infections During Cancer Treatment, helps cancer patients assess their risk for developing neutropenia during chemotherapy. Cancer patients and caregivers complete a short online questionnaire about their risk factors and receive downloadable information about how to help lower their risk for infection and keep themselves healthy while receiving chemotherapy.

The Basic Infection Control and Prevention Plan for Outpatient Oncology Settings provides specific guidelines on injection safety, hand hygiene, environmental disinfection, and other related areas. The plan outlines how the guidelines should be applied in outpatient settings where cancer patients receive chemotherapy and ongoing treatment.

As part of the comprehensive program, the CDC produced a collection of posters and patient brochures and a fact sheet. Additionally, the CDC is reaching out to professional physician and patient advocacy organizations to help raise awareness of this serious health concern and the available resources.

Preventing Infections in Cancer Patients was developed by experts from the CDC's Division of Cancer Prevention and Control and the CDC's Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion in collaboration with scientists in the fields of oncology and infection control. The program was made possible by a grant from the biotechnology company Amgen, which also offers more information at its website.

More information and resources on the comanagement of cancer patients, including clinical resources, are highlighted in the November/December issue of ACP Internist.