cancer

why is it important for a patient with luekemia avoid bacterial infections?

[DrBhumikaMD]

Hi,
A patient with leukemia has decreased WBC's - which are white blood cells which make up the bodies defense mechanism or immune system. These cells help fight infections - esp bacterial by identifying, attacking and killing the bacterial organisms invading our body. Also once an infection has occured they limit the infection and help the body to fight back to its normal state of well being. So a patient with leukemia needs to avoid bacterial infections as his body would not be able to fight those infections due the low reserve of WBC's. This could cause multiple secondary or superadded infections which would not heal easily due to the depressed immune system and in some cases could be life threatening.