CDC Foundation Commemorates a Decade of Helping Cancer Patients Prevent Infection

Today marks the 10-year anniversary of Preventing Infection in Cancer Patients (PICP), a program led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the CDC Foundation with support from Amgen Oncology. PICP was developed to help lower the risk of infection during chemotherapy by providing resources to patients, caregivers and oncology providers about neutropenia (low white blood cell count), a serious side effect of chemotherapy.

To commemorate this milestone, a public service announcement and a virtual healthcare provider tool in English and Spanish: TINA and TINA en Español are now available to help cancer patients navigate information about preventing infection. TINA (Talking about Infection & Neutropenia Awareness), is an interactive evidence-based online tool that provides a personalized learning experience—in English and Spanish—for cancer patients, and a role playing and training opportunity (in English) for providers to communicate better with their patients.

According to CDC, more than 100,000 cancer patients on an annual basis who received chemotherapy in an outpatient oncology clinic were hospitalized due to neutropenia. Usage data collected show that patients who complete TINA have a greater understanding and comfort with the risks of neutropenia and infection and what they can do to stay safe. 

Visit www.preventingcancerinfections.org for resources and tools to prevent infection during chemotherapy.