Dietary recommendations for neutropenic patients.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the development of an evidence-based practice project that will evaluate less restrictive dietary practices and focus on hand washing in adult patients with chemotherapy-induced neutropenia.


METHODS
Guidelines, protocols, and published articles.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a lack of scientific basis for food restrictions, a wide variation in policies related to low-microbial diets, and inconsistent compliance with restricted diets. Furthermore, lack of consistent practice has not been related to incidence of infection.


CONCLUSIONS
Evaluation of an evidence-based project such as this can lead to change in practice and institutional policy.
Wilson
Barbara J
BJ
Saint Joseph's Hospital of Atlanta, 5665 Peachtree Dunwoody Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30342-1764, USA.
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004032:Diet; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000451:nursing; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000628:therapy; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000379:methods
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents