Preventing Infections in Cancer Patients

Getting chemo? Learn how to prevent infections and stay healthy during treatment

Photo of a cancer patient and her mother drinking coffee

Learn how chemotherapy raises your risk of getting an infection and what to do if you get an infection during chemotherapy.

Health Care Providers

Photo of a nurse providing a vaccine to a cancer patient

Our resources explain how to protect cancer patients who receive chemotherapy in an outpatient oncology clinic from infections.

Educational Materials

Photo of a man and a woman looking at a laptop computer

We offer a variety of materials to help promote awareness about the importance of preventing infections in cancer patients.

Stop the Spread of Germs

Low Resolution Video

This video lists steps you can take to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses.

Featured Resources

Photo of a doctor giving a young boy a flu shot while his mother looks on

Learn what cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers should know about the flu.

Photo of a caregiver putting her hand on the head of a cancer patient who has fever.

Neutropenia is a common side effect of chemotherapy that increases your risk for infections.

3 steps toward preventing infections during cancer treatment: prepare, prevent, protect

Find out if you’re at high risk of getting an infection during cancer treatment on the 3 Steps website.external icon

The Preventing Infections in Cancer Patients campaign provides resources to help lower the risk of cancer patients developing potentially life-threatening infections during chemotherapy treatment.

Page last reviewed: November 10, 2020

Content source: Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention