Dietary recommendations for immunosuppressed patients of 17 hematopoietic stem cell transplantation centers in Brazil

INTRODUCTION: Low-microbial diets are recommended to reduce the risk of foodborne infections when hematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients have neutropenia. However there is no pattern concerning the composition of such a diet. OBJECTIVE: To collect information concerning the structure of nutrition departments and the diets recommended for immunosuppressed patients in transplant centers in Brazil. METHODS: Questionnaires were sent to the 45 Bone Marrow Transplantation Centers listed by the Sociedade Brasileira de Transplante de Medula Óssea (SBTMO). Completed questionnaires were returned by 17 centers. The questions were related to the profile and the structure of the nutrition department, at what point a general diet is allowed after transplantation, and which food is allowed during the critical period of immunosuppression and soon after transplantation. RESULTS: Of the 17 centers that participated, 82% have a professional nutritionist exclusively for the Transplant Department but only 41% have an area specifically for the preparation of diets for immunosuppressed patients. The patients are released from the low-microbial diet to general diets 90-100 days after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation by 29% of the centers and only after suspension of immunosuppressive drugs in 24%. Most centers (88%) restrict the consumption of raw fruits, all restrict the consumption of raw vegetables and 88% forbid the consumption of yogurt in the critical period of immunosuppression. There was no consensus on forbidden foods soon after transplantation. CONCLUSION: Major differences in diets recommended to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients were observed between the different centers.