News reports about a type of infection called MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) in otherwise healthy adults and children serve as a reminder for persons with leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma or other blood cancers and their families to carefully follow their healthcare providers' advice for decreasing the risk of infection.

Treatment for blood cancers usually includes intensive chemotherapy and often, the use of indwelling catheters. These have increased our ability to eliminate some cancers. However, more intensive treatment also increases the potential for infection.

MRSA is one of a number of bacterial infections that is resistant to the usual treatment with antibiotics. These are a few simple rules to follow at home, school, work and hospital to avoid infections including MRSA:

• Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water or with alcohol-based hand sanitizer throughout the day,

• Check with staff and visitors coming into your hospital room to make sure they have washed their hands.

• Keep cuts and scrapes clean and bandaged.

• Avoid contact with cuts, scrapes and bandages from others. Do not share personal items such as bath towels.

• Report any signs of infection to your physician immediately. Signs of infection may include fever, chills, a cough or sore throat, abdominal pain, redness, swelling or tenderness, especially around a wound, sore, or IV catheter site.

For more information about MRSA see Medical News.

For more information about reducing the risk of infection during and after treatment please see the free LLS booklet Understanding Drug Therapy and Managing Side Effects.