Neutropenia is earmarked by low levels of white blood cells calledneutrophils.
Neutrophils are abundant in people with healthy immune systems.
Without enough neutrophils circulating in the blood, dangerous or fatal infections can result.
Lorado / Getty Images
This article will detail neutropenic precautions you might take that increase your safety from infection.
Lorado / Getty Images
What Are Neutropenic Precautions?
If you have neutropenia, your body is unable to adequately fight off infection.
For that reason, avoiding germs that can make you sick is a priority.
It can be hard to completely eliminate germs from your environment.
However, even the healthiest foods can contain bacteria and pathogens (organisms that can cause disease).
When Are Neutropenic Precautions Used?
Neutropenic precautions are recommended for anyone who has neutropenia, to use both at home and in clinical options.
Neutropenia is diagnosed through a complete blood count (CBC) test.
This test provides information about your absolute neutrophil count (ANC).
Cancer and Cancer Treatment
Cancer and the treatments used to fight it can weaken the immune system.
Neutropenic precautions are recommended for people undergoing chemotherapy.
Other cancer treatments that may weaken the immune system include radiation, surgery, and bone marrow transplants.
What Is Neutropenic Isolation?
Neutropenic isolation may be used in clinical prefs to protect people with severe neutropenia from pathogen exposure.
Guidelines for your stay will include neutropenic precautions in addition to standard precautions.
Neutrophils are necessary for fighting offbacterial infections and illnesses.
Neutropenic precautions are common sense guidelines for reducing exposure to pathogens that can make you sick.
People with cancer and other conditions may be required to use neutropenic precautions at various points during treatment.
A Word From Verywell
It can be hard to live with a long list of donts.
However, if you are immunocompromised and have neutropenia, it may be necessary to do just that.
Some neutropenic precautions, such as washing your hands often, may be easy to adapt to.
Others, such as finding a temporary home for your pets, may be harder.
The goal of neutropenic precautions is to keep you healthy and safe.
Keeping your eyes on that goal may help you to get through this time.
Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) determines your risk for infection.
Your highest risk is when your ANC is lower than 500.
Moderate risk for ANC is 5001,000.
You are considered neutropenic when your white blood cell count (WBC) drops below 1,000 per cubic millimeter.
Flowers and standing water in vases can contain bacteria and fungi, which are harmful to people with neutropenia.
For this reason, they should be eliminated from your environment until your ANC levels increase.
American Cancer Society.Q&A: preventing infections when you have cancer.
American Cancer Society.Watching for and preventing infections.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Neutropenic diet.
Together powered by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) and neutropenia.
UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals.Neutropenia.
NIH National Center for Advancing Translational Services GARD Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center.Severe congenital neutropenia autosomal recessive 3.
Minnesota Hospital Association.Neutropenic precautions.
Lymphoma Action.Infections: risk and prevention.
Virginia Oncology Associates.Low white blood cell count.
