A low-bacteria diet excludes foods that are most likely to contain bacteria or other infection-causing microorganisms.
If you have a weakened immune system, following this diet will reduce your risk of becoming ill from eating food. This diet is often recommended before and after certain cancer treatments. Talk with your doctor about whether you need to follow a low-bacteria diet and, if so, for how long you should follow it.
Bacteria and other harmful microorganisms are most likely to be present in raw or fresh foods. Thoroughly cooking foods destroys these microorganisms. For example, fresh vegetables should be cooked until tender, meats should be cooked until well-done, and eggs should be cooked until the yolk is firm.
Certain food products, such as milk, are treated with a method known as pasteurization. Pasteurization briefly exposes food to high heat that kills any bacteria, without cooking the food. Look for dairy products, juices, and ciders that have the word “pasteurized” on the label.
Food Category | Foods Recommended | Foods to Avoid |
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Grains |
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Vegetables |
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Fruits |
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Milk |
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Meat and Beans |
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Oils |
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Fats and Sweets |
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Beverages |
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Other |
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Here are some general suggestions and guidelines for eating a low-bacteria diet. Consider meeting with a registered dietitian to learn more about this diet and how to make it fit with your lifestyle and eating habits.
RESOURCES:
American Cancer Society
http://www.cancer.org/
American Dietetic Association
http://www.eatright.org/
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Canadian Cancer Society
http://www.cancer.ca/
Dietitians of Canada
http://www.dietitians.ca/
References:
Diet guidelines for immunosuppressed patients. Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center website. Available at: http://www.fhcrc.org/science/clinical/ltfu/patient/diet_guidelines.html . Accessed April 23, 2007.
French MR, Levy-Milne R, Zibrik D. A survey of the use of low microbial diets in pediatric bone marrow transplant programs. J Am Diet Assoc . 2001;101:1194-1198.
Low bacterial diet. The Ohio State University website. Available at: http://medicalcenter.osu.edu/patientcare/healthinformation/education . Accessed April 23, 2007.
The neutropenic diet. Association of Online Cancer Resources website. Available at: http://leukemia.acor.org/neutro.html. Accessed January 3, 2010.
Nutrition care manual. American Dietetic Association website. Available at: http://nutritioncaremanual.org/auth.cfm?p=%2Findex.cfm%3F. Accessed January 3, 2009.
Last reviewed January 2010 by Maria Adams, MS, MPH, RD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Copyright © 2007 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.