A variety of educational materials were created to help raise awareness about the importance of preventing infections in cancer patients. In addition, a wide range of expert resources was used to develop this program, including relevant Websites, medical journals, and guidelines.
Educational Materials
To help raise awareness about the importance of preventing infections in cancer patients, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) created the following materials for patients & caregivers and healthcare providers.
Many of the materials listed below may be downloaded, viewed, copied, and distributed without alteration. The materials with an asterisk (*) beside them are available to order free of charge.
Click here to order free copies of many of these materials from CDC-INFO (scroll down to "Preventing Infections in Cancer Patients" in the Programs window).
FOR PATIENTS AND CAREGIVERS
Print Materials
Getting Chemo? Top 5 Things to Know about Neutropenia infographic (JPG)
Cancer Caregivers - A Chemo Side Effect You Should Know About: Neutropenia fact sheet (PDF)
Neutropenia and Risk for Infection: What You Need to Know fact sheet (PDF)
Out of Sight, Out of Mind poster (PDF)*
Cancer Is a Fight. Don't Let the Flu Knock You Down post card (PDF)
Cancer Is a Fight. Don't Let the Flu Knock You Down poster (PDF)*
Cancer, Infection, and Sepsis Fact Sheet (PDF)
- CDC’s Safe Healthcare Blog: Helping Cancer Patients Prevent Infections this Winter by Alice Guh, MD, MPH
- CDC’s Safe Healthcare Blog: Cancer Survivor Employs Simple Steps to Fight offDuring Chemotherapy by Pamela Bryant
- CDC’s Safe Healthcare Blog: One of Chemotherapy’s Most Severe Side Effects: What You Can Do To Prevent AnDuring Treatment For Cancer by Michele Gaguski, MSN, RN, AOCN, CHPN, APN-C
- CDC’s The Topic is Cancer Blog: Chemotherapy’s Most Serious Side Effects by Lisa Richardson, MD, MPH
- CDC’s The Topic is Cancer Blog: Overwhelmed by too Much Health Advice: Cheat Sheet for Women’s Cancer Screenings and Good Health by Lisa Richardson, MD, MPH
- CDC’s The Topic is Cancer Blog: Cheat Sheet for Men’s Cancer Screenings and Good Health by Lisa Richardson, MD, MPH
Video:
- CDC Video Podcast: Prevent Infections During by Lisa Richardson, MD, MPH - A discussion on the importance of preventing infections during chemotherapy.
Web:
- For more information about this program, please visit http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/preventinfections/patients.htm
FOR PROVIDERS
There are a number of ways to use the current Preventing Infections in Cancer Patients resources. The fact sheets and brochure are intended to be handed out to patients and caregivers. Some other examples include distribution of brochures at health fairs, displaying posters in patient waiting areas and/or healthcare staff lounges, and linking your facilities Website to these resources.
Print Materials:
Oncology Providers: Your Patients May Not Understand Their Risk of Infection fact sheet (PDF)
Cancer, Infection, and Sepsis fact sheet (PDF)
Out of Sight, Out of Mind poster (PDF) *
Emergency Room Personnel poster (PDF) *
Neutropenia and Risk for Infection: What You Need to Know fact sheet (PDF)
Cancer Is a Fight. Don't Let the Flu Knock You Down post card (PDF)
Cancer Is a Fight. Don't Let the Flu Knock You Down poster (PDF)*
Injection Safety Reminders for Oncology Providers fact sheet (PDF)
Policies and Procedures:
- BasicControl and Prevention Plan for Outpatient Oncology Settings *
- My Pocket Guide: A quick guide to CDC’s BasicControl and Prevention Plan for Outpatient Oncology Settings*
Video:
- Roundtable Discussion on Medscape: Strategies for ImprovingControl During Cancer Care (UNLESS MEDSCAPE PULLS THIS COMPLETELY)
- CDC Medscape Commentary: Protect Outpatient Oncology Patients from Infections by Alice Guh, MD, MPH
- CDC Medscape Commentary: New Tool to Prevent Infections During by Lisa Richardson, MD, MPH
- Roundtable Discussion on Medscape: Strategies for ImprovingControl During Cancer Care
Social Media:
- CDC Safe Healthcare Blog: Protect Cancer Patients from Infections by Alice Guh, MD, MPH
- Point Is Protection: Safety First for Oncology Health Care Professionals and Our Patients by Michele Gaguski, MSN, RN, AOCN, CHPN, APN-C
- CDC’s The Topic is Cancer Blog: CDC Helps “Shoot for the Moon” by Lisa Richardson, MD, MPH
Web Buttons:
- Click here to view the buttons and copy and paste the code to embed in your Website as an additional resource for your patients or professional members.
Web:
- For more information about this program, please visit CDC's website.
Continuing Education:
- New! Free Continuing Education (CE) Webinar from CDC: Safe Injections in the Outpatient Oncology Setting: Protecting Your Patients and Your Practice WD2720. Follow the instructions from there. (Scroll down to Past Webinars to find this webinar)
