ABSTRACT
Although many clinical trials investigated the efficacy of various measures to prevent or reduce the occurrence of infection, the most effective and reproducible ways of infection prevention have been the simplest. Especially strict hand washing by physicians, nurses, and others in close contact with patients has to be emphasized. A cooked food diet that excludes fresh fruits and vegetables during periods of neutropenia is generally recommended, because these foods are often contaminated with gram-negative bacteria (especially Klebsiella peumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginasa) and fungal spores. To decrease excessive microbial colonization, invasive procedures should be minimized.
