Variations in non-pharmacological anti-infective measures in childhood leukemia - results of an international survey

  • Background: Standardization in clinical practice may lead to improved outcomes. Unfortunately, little is known about the variability of non-pharmacological anti-infective measures in children with cancer. Design and Methods: A web-based survey assessed institutional recommendations regarding restrictions of social contacts, pets and food and instructions on wearing face masks in public for children with standard- risk acute lymphoblastic leuk emia and acute myeloid leukemia during intensive chemotherapy. Results: A total of 336 institutions in 27 countries responded to the survey (range, 1-76 institutions per country; overall response rate 61%). Most institutions recommend that patients with acute myeloid leukemia avoid indoor public places and daycare, kindergarten and school, whereas recommendations for patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia differ considerably by institution. In terms of restrictions related to pets, there was a wide variability between institutions for both acute lymphoblastic and acute myeloid leukemia patients. Most, but not all institutions do not allow children with either acute lymphoblastic or acute myeloid leukemia to eat raw meat, raw seafood or unpasteurized milk. Whereas most institutions do not routinely recommend that patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia wear face masks in public, advice on this matter varies for patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Conclusions: The survey demonstrates that there is a wide variation in recommendations on non-pharmacological anti-infective measures between different institutions, countries and continents. This information may be used to encourage harmonization of supportive care practices and future clinical trials.

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Metadaten
Author:Thomas LehrnbecherORCiDGND, Richard Aplenc, Fernanda Rivas Pereira, Alvaro Lassaletta, Désirée Caselli, Jerzy Kowalczyk, Julia Chisholm, Lillian Sung
URN:urn:nbn:de:hebis:30:3-439234
DOI:https://doi.org/10.3324/haematol.2012.062885
Pubmed Id:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22419572
Parent Title (English):Haematologica
Publisher:European Hematology Association
Document Type:Article
Language:English
Year of Completion:2012
Year of first Publication:2012
Publishing Institution:Universitätsbibliothek Johann Christian Senckenberg
Release Date:2017/11/16
Tag:acute lymphoblastic leukemia; acute myeloid leukemia; child; infection; non - pharmacological anti-infective measures
Volume:97
Issue:10
Page Number:5
First Page:1548
Last Page:1552
HeBIS-PPN:425299112
Institutes:Medizin / Medizin
Dewey Decimal Classification:6 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften / 61 Medizin und Gesundheit / 610 Medizin und Gesundheit
Sammlungen:Universitätspublikationen
Licence (German):License LogoDeutsches Urheberrecht