title: Oral non-absorbed antibiotics prevent infection in acute non-lymphoblastic leukaemia.
abstract: 113 patients being treated for acute non-lymphoblastic leukaemia were investigated to determine the effect of suppression of body microbial flora on prevention of infection. They were randomly allocated to a control group or a group which received non-absorbed antibiotics by mouth and topical applications of cutaneous and mucosal antiseptic preparations. The group receiving oral non-absorbed antibiotics had significantly few infections, fewer deaths from infection, fewer pyrexial episodes, and consequently received less systemic antibiotic therapy than the controls.
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001442:Bacteroides Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003091:Colistin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004756:Enterobacteriaceae Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D005601:Framycetin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009761:Nystatin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D018805:Sepsis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D009761:Nystatin; D005601:Framycetin; D002710:Chlorhexidine; D003091:Colistin