Infection Control of 2019 Novel Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) in Cancer Patients undergoing Radiotherapy in Wuhan

Conghua Xie; Xiaoyong Wang; Hui Liu; Zhirong Bao; Jing Yu; Yahua Zhong; Melvin LK Chua

the characteristic CT change of COVID-19 pneumonia is the presence of ground-glass changes in the outer zone of one or both lungs. This method of diagnosis for COVID-19 is considered more reliable than the SARS-CoV-2 real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay, since CT manifestations tend to appear earlier than nucleic acid detection. 7 If either the CT or laboratory results were abnormal, the suspect cases would then be sent to the outpatient fever clinic for further assessment. Throat swab samples would be collected and tested using the SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR assay. While waiting for the outcome of the RT-PCR test, patients would be quarantined in a dedicated area within the hospital compound to mitigate the risk of nosocomial spread. Contact, droplet and airborne precautions were undertaken for the suspect cases. In the event of a positive RT-PCR result or highly suspicious CT findings, patients would be transported to a designated infectious disease hospital for isolation, observation, and treatment. For patients with normal results, they will be admitted to the hospital for RT or receive RT as an outpatient.