Abstract
The objective of this systematic review is to evaluate the existing evidence supporting the effectiveness of the neutropenic diet in decreasing infection and mortality among cancer patients. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Scopus for relevant articles published from database inception until March 2019. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed for this review. Individual studies were evaluated using the Oxford Center for Evidence-Based Medicine guidelines. A total of 473 articles were identified and 11 articles were selected after assessing eligibility. Our review showed that the neutropenic diet does not decrease infection rates or mortality among cancer patients. Currently, there is no uniform definition for the neutropenic diet across different institutions. For example, some institutions follow general food safety practices while others avoid foods that increase exposure to microbes and bacteria, and some follow both. Given these differences in practice regarding what constitutes a neutropenic diet, it is advisable that safe food handling and preparation practices recommended by the Food and Drug Administration be uniformly followed for neutropenic patients.
Acknowledgments
In remembrance of Katrina Pearce and all those affected by cancer.
Disclosure statement
V. Ramamoorthy: None. M. Rubens: None. S. Appunni: None. A. Saxena: None. P. McGranaghan: None. E. Veledar: None. A. Viamonte-Ros: None. N. Shehadeh: None. A. Kaiser: None. R. Kotecha: Elsevier PracticeUpdate; Accuray, Inc.; Elekta AB; Novocure (none related to this work).
Additional information
Funding
Notes on contributors
Venkataraghavan Ramamoorthy
V. Ramamoorthy: Study concept and design, acquisition of data, drafting the article, and final approval. M. Rubens: Study concept and design, acquisition of data, drafting the article, and final approval. S. Appunni: Data analysis and interpretation, drafting the article, and final approval. A. Saxena: Data analysis and interpretation, drafting the article, and final approval. P. McGranaghan: Data analysis and interpretation, drafting the article, and final approval. E. Veledar: Data analysis and interpretation, critical revision for important intellectual content, and final approval. A. Viamonte-Ros: Study concept and design, critical revision for important intellectual content, and final approval. N. Shehadeh: Study concept and design, critical revision for important intellectual content, and final approval. R. Kotecha: Study concept and design, critical revision for important intellectual content, and final approval.
Muni Rubens
V. Ramamoorthy: Study concept and design, acquisition of data, drafting the article, and final approval. M. Rubens: Study concept and design, acquisition of data, drafting the article, and final approval. S. Appunni: Data analysis and interpretation, drafting the article, and final approval. A. Saxena: Data analysis and interpretation, drafting the article, and final approval. P. McGranaghan: Data analysis and interpretation, drafting the article, and final approval. E. Veledar: Data analysis and interpretation, critical revision for important intellectual content, and final approval. A. Viamonte-Ros: Study concept and design, critical revision for important intellectual content, and final approval. N. Shehadeh: Study concept and design, critical revision for important intellectual content, and final approval. R. Kotecha: Study concept and design, critical revision for important intellectual content, and final approval.
Sandeep Appunni
V. Ramamoorthy: Study concept and design, acquisition of data, drafting the article, and final approval. M. Rubens: Study concept and design, acquisition of data, drafting the article, and final approval. S. Appunni: Data analysis and interpretation, drafting the article, and final approval. A. Saxena: Data analysis and interpretation, drafting the article, and final approval. P. McGranaghan: Data analysis and interpretation, drafting the article, and final approval. E. Veledar: Data analysis and interpretation, critical revision for important intellectual content, and final approval. A. Viamonte-Ros: Study concept and design, critical revision for important intellectual content, and final approval. N. Shehadeh: Study concept and design, critical revision for important intellectual content, and final approval. R. Kotecha: Study concept and design, critical revision for important intellectual content, and final approval.
Anshul Saxena
V. Ramamoorthy: Study concept and design, acquisition of data, drafting the article, and final approval. M. Rubens: Study concept and design, acquisition of data, drafting the article, and final approval. S. Appunni: Data analysis and interpretation, drafting the article, and final approval. A. Saxena: Data analysis and interpretation, drafting the article, and final approval. P. McGranaghan: Data analysis and interpretation, drafting the article, and final approval. E. Veledar: Data analysis and interpretation, critical revision for important intellectual content, and final approval. A. Viamonte-Ros: Study concept and design, critical revision for important intellectual content, and final approval. N. Shehadeh: Study concept and design, critical revision for important intellectual content, and final approval. R. Kotecha: Study concept and design, critical revision for important intellectual content, and final approval.
Peter McGranaghan
V. Ramamoorthy: Study concept and design, acquisition of data, drafting the article, and final approval. M. Rubens: Study concept and design, acquisition of data, drafting the article, and final approval. S. Appunni: Data analysis and interpretation, drafting the article, and final approval. A. Saxena: Data analysis and interpretation, drafting the article, and final approval. P. McGranaghan: Data analysis and interpretation, drafting the article, and final approval. E. Veledar: Data analysis and interpretation, critical revision for important intellectual content, and final approval. A. Viamonte-Ros: Study concept and design, critical revision for important intellectual content, and final approval. N. Shehadeh: Study concept and design, critical revision for important intellectual content, and final approval. R. Kotecha: Study concept and design, critical revision for important intellectual content, and final approval.
Emir Veledar
V. Ramamoorthy: Study concept and design, acquisition of data, drafting the article, and final approval. M. Rubens: Study concept and design, acquisition of data, drafting the article, and final approval. S. Appunni: Data analysis and interpretation, drafting the article, and final approval. A. Saxena: Data analysis and interpretation, drafting the article, and final approval. P. McGranaghan: Data analysis and interpretation, drafting the article, and final approval. E. Veledar: Data analysis and interpretation, critical revision for important intellectual content, and final approval. A. Viamonte-Ros: Study concept and design, critical revision for important intellectual content, and final approval. N. Shehadeh: Study concept and design, critical revision for important intellectual content, and final approval. R. Kotecha: Study concept and design, critical revision for important intellectual content, and final approval.
Ana Viamonte-Ros
V. Ramamoorthy: Study concept and design, acquisition of data, drafting the article, and final approval. M. Rubens: Study concept and design, acquisition of data, drafting the article, and final approval. S. Appunni: Data analysis and interpretation, drafting the article, and final approval. A. Saxena: Data analysis and interpretation, drafting the article, and final approval. P. McGranaghan: Data analysis and interpretation, drafting the article, and final approval. E. Veledar: Data analysis and interpretation, critical revision for important intellectual content, and final approval. A. Viamonte-Ros: Study concept and design, critical revision for important intellectual content, and final approval. N. Shehadeh: Study concept and design, critical revision for important intellectual content, and final approval. R. Kotecha: Study concept and design, critical revision for important intellectual content, and final approval.
Nancy Shehadeh
V. Ramamoorthy: Study concept and design, acquisition of data, drafting the article, and final approval. M. Rubens: Study concept and design, acquisition of data, drafting the article, and final approval. S. Appunni: Data analysis and interpretation, drafting the article, and final approval. A. Saxena: Data analysis and interpretation, drafting the article, and final approval. P. McGranaghan: Data analysis and interpretation, drafting the article, and final approval. E. Veledar: Data analysis and interpretation, critical revision for important intellectual content, and final approval. A. Viamonte-Ros: Study concept and design, critical revision for important intellectual content, and final approval. N. Shehadeh: Study concept and design, critical revision for important intellectual content, and final approval. R. Kotecha: Study concept and design, critical revision for important intellectual content, and final approval.
Adeel Kaiser
V. Ramamoorthy: Study concept and design, acquisition of data, drafting the article, and final approval. M. Rubens: Study concept and design, acquisition of data, drafting the article, and final approval. S. Appunni: Data analysis and interpretation, drafting the article, and final approval. A. Saxena: Data analysis and interpretation, drafting the article, and final approval. P. McGranaghan: Data analysis and interpretation, drafting the article, and final approval. E. Veledar: Data analysis and interpretation, critical revision for important intellectual content, and final approval. A. Viamonte-Ros: Study concept and design, critical revision for important intellectual content, and final approval. N. Shehadeh: Study concept and design, critical revision for important intellectual content, and final approval. R. Kotecha: Study concept and design, critical revision for important intellectual content, and final approval.
Rupesh Kotecha
V. Ramamoorthy: Study concept and design, acquisition of data, drafting the article, and final approval. M. Rubens: Study concept and design, acquisition of data, drafting the article, and final approval. S. Appunni: Data analysis and interpretation, drafting the article, and final approval. A. Saxena: Data analysis and interpretation, drafting the article, and final approval. P. McGranaghan: Data analysis and interpretation, drafting the article, and final approval. E. Veledar: Data analysis and interpretation, critical revision for important intellectual content, and final approval. A. Viamonte-Ros: Study concept and design, critical revision for important intellectual content, and final approval. N. Shehadeh: Study concept and design, critical revision for important intellectual content, and final approval. R. Kotecha: Study concept and design, critical revision for important intellectual content, and final approval.