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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Can Infection From Dying Cancer Patient Spread Through Air?

hello recently i visited a patient in the hospice hospital floor. I was told to wear gloves and to enter the room. the patient was dying of cancer. my concern was they did not require a mouth cover can any harm bcause to my health because she was living her last moments and i was near her breath.
Mon, 1 Jun 2015
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Radiologist,  's  Response
Hi,
Thanks for writing in.

You were safe during your visit to the hospice to meet the patient. Cancer patients who are taking chemotherapy have a low immunity and they are prone to developing infections which normal people will not get. Even some of the normal bacteria and fungus present in you might cause serious infection to those having cancer.

Transmission of infection from a dying patient through air never happens. Most infections are transmitted by touch and therefore, to minimize the infection transmission rate from you to the patient and other patients, wearing a gloves was considered important. Please do not worry.
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Can Infection From Dying Cancer Patient Spread Through Air?

Hi, Thanks for writing in. You were safe during your visit to the hospice to meet the patient. Cancer patients who are taking chemotherapy have a low immunity and they are prone to developing infections which normal people will not get. Even some of the normal bacteria and fungus present in you might cause serious infection to those having cancer. Transmission of infection from a dying patient through air never happens. Most infections are transmitted by touch and therefore, to minimize the infection transmission rate from you to the patient and other patients, wearing a gloves was considered important. Please do not worry.