in addition to receiving treatment from your doctor the following suggestions can help prevent infections: clean your hands frequently. watch out for a fever. if you have a temperature of 100. 4ºf or higher for more than 1 hour or a one-time temperature of 101ºf or higher it’s very important that you call your doctor immediately even if it is in the middle of the night. get the seasonal flu shot as soon as it is available. shower or bathe daily and use an unscented lotion to prevent your skin from becoming dry and cracked. these cracks can allow germs to enter your body. clean your teeth and gums with a soft toothbrush and if your doctor or nurse recommends one use a mouthwash to prevent mouth sores. try to avoid crowded places and contact with people who are sick. do not share food drink cups utensils or other personal items such as toothbrushes. cook meat and eggs all the way through to kill any germs. carefully wash raw fruits and vegetables. protect your skin from direct contact with pet bodily waste (urine or feces) by wearing vinyl or household cleaning gloves when cleaning up after your pet. wash your hands immediately afterwards. use gloves when gardening. try and keep all your household surfaces clean. visit www. preventcancerinfections. org to learn more about steps you can take to prevent an infection during your chemotherapy.
how can i help prevent an infection during my cancer treatment?