Adherence to General Infection Control Recommendations
Numerous organizations and professional groups have published detailed recommendations for prevention and control of infection that apply to all types of patients receiving health care. It should be noted that all of these apply to patients with cancer and are of increased importance in this population due to immunodeficiency associated with various cancers and cancer treatments. Recommendations for infection prevention and control include specific patient care and environment of care recommendations.
Acustimulation
Acustimulation involves electrostimulation of acupressure points (most commonly, the P6 point) by transcutaneous, electrical stimulation through a wristband device. A wristband device currently available is the Reliefband®, a class-II device approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). The device delivers slow, weak, electrical impulses to the P6 point via two metallic electrodes. Patients can adjust the electrical output to deliver 10-35 milliamps per pulse.
Acupuncture/Electroacupuncture
Acupuncture is a method of producing analgesia or altering the function of a body system by inserting fine, wire-thin needles (about the diameter of a strand of hair) into acupoints along a specific meridian (meridians are channels in the body that transport energy). Electroacupuncture involves the application of a pulsating electrical current to acupuncture needles to stimulate the acupoint via an electrode that is attached to the acupuncture needles. The electrical current substitutes for maneuvering the needles by hand.
Acupressure
Acupressure is a therapeutic technique of applying digital pressure (pressure applied by the digits or hands) in a specific way on designated points on the body. By applying pressure to one or more acupoints, practitioners correct imbalances by stimulating or easing energy flow. The acupoint most commonly investigated and accessible is P6, which is located on the anterior surface of the forearm, approximately three finger-widths from the wrist crease.
Activity Restriction
Activity restriction is the act of informing the patient to avoid certain body movement or types of physical activity. Acitivity restriction has been used and evaluated in patients at risk for or with lymphedema.
Abiraterone Acetate
Abiraterone acetate, a salt compound of a steroid, contains an antiandrogen and may suppress testosterone production. Abiraterone acetate has been used to treat patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer. Researchers have studied the effect of this treatment on fatigue and pain.
5HT3 and Dexamethasone in Pediatric Patients
5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT3) receptor antagonists (RAs) are a class of antiemetics used to relieve nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy. At this time, four 5-HT3 RAs are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in the United States: ondansetron, granisetron, dolasetron, and palonosetron. Dexamethasone is a corticosteroid. These drugs have been evaluated for use in pediatric patients to treat acute emesis associated with highly or moderately emetogenic chemotherapy.
5HT3 and Anxiolytics in Pediatric Patients
Neurokinin 1 (NK1) receptor antagonists (RAs) are a class of drug used to treat nausea and vomiting in patients receiving chemotherapy. The class includes aprepitant, casopitant, and fosaprepitant. Anxiolytics are antianxiety agents used to treat the physical and psychological symptoms of anxiety. These drugs have been evaluated for use in pediatric patients to treat nausea and vomiting.