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.