When the neutrophil count drops dangerously low, people are considered neutropenic.
Neutropenic people can easily get bacterial infections from food and become ill.
This article will review the key features of the neutropenic diet and discuss its effectiveness.
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Although most healthy people will recover from foodborne illnesses quickly, those with a weakened immune system may not.
Your primary line of defense against infection is good handwashing.
Properly preparing and storing food also reduces the risk of developing a bacterial infection from food.
Food Preparation Guidelines
Bacterial contamination often occurs during food preparation.
Instead, each cancer center adjusts the diet requirements according to their preference.
This can lead to inconsistency and confusion for patients.
Potential Challenges
Maintaining good nutrition during cancer treatment is further complicated by other side effects of chemotherapy.
These medications stimulate the production of neutrophils resulting in decreased risk of acquiring an infection.
However, studies have not proved that the neutropenic diet reduces the risk of developing infections.
Therefore, some oncology clinics emphasize safe food handling practices rather than following strict neutropenic diets.
Talk to your oncology nurse about how to stay infection-free during cancer treatment.
Talk to your oncologist before starting any new diet while on chemotherapy.
Food and Drug Administration.Food facts.
Jubelirer SJ.The benefit of the neutropenic diet: fact or fiction?The Oncologist.
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2023 Dec 16;32(1):34. doi: 10.1007/s00520-023-08176-6
