Xylitol Dental Wipes for the Reduction of Bloodstream Infection Risk in Children With Acute Myeloid Leukemia

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: I. To compare the incidence rate of bloodstream infections (BSI) (BSI per 1000 patient-days) from oral organisms over 2 cycles of chemotherapy in children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) randomized to xylitol-containing oral wipes (xylitol dental wipes) versus control wipes. SECONDARY OBJECTIVE: I. To compare the rate of BSI (BSI per 1000 patient-days) from any organism in patients randomized to xylitol dental wipes versus control wipes. EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVES: I. To compare the frequency of severe infection (defined as any infection or infestation falling under Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events \[CTCAE\] sepsis grade 4 or 5) in patients randomized to xylitol dental wipes versus control wipes. II. To compare the frequency of fever and neutropenia episodes in patients randomized to xylitol dental wipes versus control wipes. III. To compare the frequency of severe mucositis, using the Children's International Mucositis Evaluation Scale (ChIMES), in patients randomized to xylitol dental wipes versus control wipes in addition to CTCAE grade 3 and above mucositis. IV. To evaluate changes in oral microbial composition in pediatric patients treated with xylitol versus control wipes. OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 arms. ARM I: Patients receive standard chemotherapy containing cytarabine intravenously (IV) on study and receive a xylitol dental wipe intraorally twice daily (BID) to the teeth and gums at the start of the chemotherapy cycle and continuing for up to 30 days or until absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \>= 100/u/L following nadir. Treatment continues for 2 consecutive cycles of chemotherapy. Additionally, patients may optionally undergo saliva sample collections throughout the study. ARM II: Patients receive standard chemotherapy containing cytarabine IV on study and receive a non-xylitol dental wipe intraorally BID to the teeth and gums at the start of the chemotherapy cycle and continuing for up to 30 days or until ANC \>= 100/u/L following nadir. Treatment continues for 2 consecutive cycles of chemotherapy. Additionally, patients may optionally undergo saliva sample collections throughout the study. After completion of study treatment, patients are followed over the next cycle of chemotherapy or if chemotherapy is complete, for 90 days after the start of the last cycle of chemotherapy.