Putting evidence into practice: prevention of infection

Clin J Oncol Nurs. 2006 Dec;10(6):739-50. doi: 10.1188/06.CJON.739-750.

Abstract

The prevention of infection is an important outcome to measure in patients with cancer because infectious complications are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Nurses play a vital role in the prevention of infection in patients with cancer through nursing practice, research, and patient education. However, many common nursing interventions to prevent infection are based on tradition or expert opinion and have not been subjected to scientific examination. The 2005 Oncology Nursing Society Prevention of Infection Outcomes Intervention Project Team reviewed, critiqued, and summarized the research evidence for nursing interventions to prevent infections in patients with cancer. Pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic interventions were included because many advanced practice nurses prescribe medications. This article is an evidence-based review of nursing interventions to prevent infection in patients with cancer.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antibiotic Prophylaxis / standards
  • Benchmarking
  • Colony-Stimulating Factors / therapeutic use
  • Cross Infection / epidemiology
  • Cross Infection / etiology
  • Cross Infection / prevention & control*
  • Evidence-Based Medicine / organization & administration*
  • Humans
  • Infection Control / methods*
  • Infection Control / standards
  • Neoplasms / complications*
  • Neutropenia / etiology
  • Neutropenia / prevention & control
  • Nurse's Role
  • Oncology Nursing / organization & administration*
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care
  • Patient Education as Topic
  • Patient Isolation / standards
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic*
  • Societies, Nursing / organization & administration
  • Stomatitis / etiology
  • Stomatitis / prevention & control
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Vaccination / standards

Substances

  • Colony-Stimulating Factors