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Much can be done to prevent you from getting an infection when you have a low white blood cell count. Preventive measures range from simple, "common sense" practices to pharmaceuticals and high-tech treatments. One or more of these should help protect you against infections.

Chemotherapy may cause inflammation and possibly infection in the mouth or throat. This is called mucositis.

Many of these preventive measures also apply to people who may help care for you at home. This is why we included a separate topic in this section, called Tips for Caregivers. Please read this and share the information with friends, family, and others who may help you.

You may need to spend some time in a hospital during your cancer treatment.

Most Helpful

Diligent hand washing is the simplest form of preventing infection. Dry your hands thoroughly afterward, as germs like to live in moist environments. An alcohol-based hand sanitizer is a good option when soap is not available. Try to avoid soaps and sanitizers containing fragrances, as the fragrance may irritate the skin or cause other problems.

Colony-stimulating factor (CSF) stimulates your bone marrow to make more white cells. CSF is gaining widespread use.

Vaccines can help your body defend against unwanted germs. Make sure you get an annual flu vaccine. In addition, your healthcare provider may recommend a vaccine that protects against a bacterial form of pneumonia.

Based on your risk factors, your physician may give you one or more antimicrobial drugs to guard against bacterial, fungal, or viral infection. Risk factors include the type of malignancy you have, your age, and other issues.

Likely to Be Helpful

Private rooms: Your healthcare provider may place you in a private room to protect you from catching other people's germs and illnesses.

Oxygen and respiratory care: Devices such as humidifiers may be used so you can breathe easily. Your healthcare provider will give you information on cleaning and maintaining humidifiers and other devices.

Breathing masks and air filters: If you have neutropenia and have been placed in a protective room, your healthcare provider may recommend that you wear a mask when you leave the protected area.

Flowers and plants: Avoid fresh or dried flowers and plants to prevent Aspergillus infection. Your caregivers should wear gloves while handling plants and wash their hands after taking off the gloves. Ask your caregivers to change vase water every two days outside of your room and to disinfect the vases. 

Ice handling: Do not handle ice by hand, and wash your hands after you obtain ice. 

Animal encounters: Avoid contact with saliva, urine, and feces from animals. Promptly clean and treat scratches, bites, or other wounds that break the skin. Wash your hands promptly after petting or any other contact with an animal.

Construction zones: Avoid areas where construction or renovation is in progress. If this is unavoidable, such as walking past a construction zone in a hospital, wear a breathing mask. 

Not Enough Evidence

Immune globulin, also called gamma globulin, contains human antibodies that provide protection against infection within two days after you get the dose. The protective benefits last about two months.

Protective isolation is an inpatient treatment only for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation recipients in which multiple measures are taken to protect you from germs when your white blood cell count is extremely low and you are considered at "high risk" for acquiring an infection. Hospitals have strict policies requiring people to gown, glove, and mask before entering a protective isolation room. Other measures fall under the umbrella of protective isolation.

Because germs and parasites can live in raw food, it's important to avoid uncooked or undercooked meat, poultry, seafood, raw eggs, and unwashed produce.

Not Likely to Be Helpful

Laminar airflow is a type of room ventilation used in certain geographic areas in which air enters the room, then exits without being recirculated. Its effectiveness in helping to prevent infection has not been proven.

Not Recommended

An intranasal vaccine should not be used if you are getting treatment that suppresses your immune system. Moreover, any family member or home caregiver who is around you frequently should not receive the vaccine, either. The vaccine is a live, weakened virus-so if your white blood cell count is low, it may not be able to destroy the virus like a healthy immune system would. Also, the virus is not recommended under any circumstance for people aged 50 years or older.