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 doctor giving an intravenous chemotherapy treatment to a female 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.

Fight Germs. Wash Your Hands!

Low Resolution Video

Handwashing is an important way to keep from getting sick and spreading germs to others. This videoexternal icon shows you how to wash your hands the right way.

Featured Resources

This flu season, protect yourself, your family, your friends, and your community from the flu.

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 common after chemotherapy and 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 web site.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: December 16, 2019

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