Reevaluating the neutropenic diet: time to change.

The neutropenic diet historically has been a mainstay in oncology practice, with many providers continuing to adhere tightly to the diet for patients with neutropenia. However, clinically sound evidence remains limited and weak and does not support the diet as a foundation for policy and practice. Therefore, two questions remain: Does evidence exist to support the effectiveness of the neutropenic diet in reducing infection rates in the neutropenic oncology population? Based on limited evidence supporting the neutropenic diet in this population, what clinically sound diet strategies are best for these patients?