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Neulasta^® (pegfilgrastim) - information for patients

Infection - signs and how to help reduce the risk

Signs of infection

As infection can be one of the most serious side effects of chemotherapy, it is important that you know what the symptoms of infection are.

If you have any of the following signs of infection¹, report them to your doctor immediately:

Temperature (fever) of 38ºC or higher
Chills and sweats
Change in cough or new cough
Sore throat or new mouth sore
Shortness of breath
Nasal congestion
Stiff neck
Burning or pain with urination
Unusual vaginal discharge or irritation
Increased urination
Redness, soreness, or swelling in any area, including surgical wounds and ports
Diarrhoea
Vomiting
Pain in the abdomen or rectum
New onset of pain
Changes in skin colour, urination, and mental status

Steps to help reduce the risk of infection

Once you begin chemotherapy, follow these steps and precautions which can help you avoid getting an infection¹:

Clean your hands frequently.
Shower or bathe daily and use an unscented lotion to prevent your skin from becoming dry and cracked.
Cook meat and eggs all the way through to kill any germs.
Carefully wash raw fruits and vegetables.
Protect your skin from direct contact with pet bodily waste (urine or faeces) by wearing vinyl or household cleaning gloves when cleaning up after your pet. Wash your hands immediately afterwards.
Use gloves for gardening.
Clean your teeth and gums with a soft toothbrush, and if your doctor or nurse recommends one, use a mouthwash to prevent mouth sores.
Try and keep all your household surfaces clean.
If you get a cut or scrape, cover it with a clean bandage until it heals.
To prevent cuts when shaving, consider using an electric razor instead of a blade.

Things to avoid during chemotherapy:

Crowds of people and people with colds or other infections
Cuts or tears of the skin or nails
Nicks or cuts when using sharp instruments - Handle sharp objects with caution and wear protective gloves when performing tasks that expose you to a risk of cuts or scrapes, such as gardening
Squeezing or scratching pimples
Taking medicines to reduce the symptoms of infection without your doctor’s consent
Situations in which you may bruise or break your skin
Immunisations or vaccinations, unless recommended by your doctor
Sharing food, drink cups, utensils or other personal items, such as toothbrushes.¹

References:

National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. What you need to know neutropenia and risk for infection. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/preventinfections/pdf/neutropenia.pdf [Last accessed: January 2021]

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the package leaflet. Side effects can be reported directly to the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) using the available methods via www.hpra.ie. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine. Side effects should also be reported to Amgen Limited on +44 (0) 1223 436441 or Freephone 1800 535 160.

Please report any potential quality issue with the Amgen product you have received, by calling us on +44 (0) 1223 436441 or Freephone 1800 535 160 and providing us with the details. Please ensure that you keep your packaging, so we are able to identify your product more easily.

For a list of possible side effects, please see

Patient Information Leaflet (PIL)

Neulasta® (pegfilgrastim) - information for patients Infection - signs and how to help reduce the risk