Putting evidence into practice: prevention of infection.
The prevention of infection is an important outcome to measure in patients with cancer because infectious complications are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Nurses play a vital role in the prevention of infection in patients with cancer through nursing practice, research, and patient education. However, many common nursing interventions to prevent infection are based on tradition or expert opinion and have not been subjected to scientific examination. The 2005 Oncology Nursing Society Prevention of Infection Outcomes Intervention Project Team reviewed, critiqued, and summarized the research evidence for nursing interventions to prevent infections in patients with cancer. Pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions were included because many advanced practice nurses prescribe medications. This article is an evidence-based review of nursing interventions to prevent infection in patients with cancer.
Zitella
Laura J
LJ
Division of Oncology, Stanford Hospital and Clinics, California, USA. lzitella@yahoo.com
Friese
Christopher R
CR
Hauser
Joanna
J
Gobel
Barbara Holmes
BH
Woolery
Myra
M
O'Leary
Colleen
C
Andrews
Felicia A
FA
D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis / Q000592:standards; D019985:Benchmarking; D003115:Colony-Stimulating Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010356:Patient Isolation / Q000592:standards; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012956:Societies, Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D013280:Stomatitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014611:Vaccination / Q000592:standards
D003115:Colony-Stimulating Factors