Prechemotherapy dental treatment to prevent bacteremia.

: Infection is the most common cause of morbidity and death in patients receiving chemotherapy for treatment of acute leukemia. Studies performed during the past decade suggest that over 30% of these infections originate from oral sources, particularly periodontal pockets and pericoronal flaps. Studies of large numbers of patients receiving a variety of myelosuppressive chemotherapy protocols are necessary to determine the risk-benefit ratio of dental treatment prior to chemotherapy.