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 outbreak of a novel SARS-CoV-2 virus has led to an unprecedented rapid spike in COVID-19 pneumonia cases globally. To date, more than 100,000 humans have been infected, and the numbers are likely to increase. Perhaps among the natural history of this virus infection, the predominant characteristic of SARS-CoV-2 is its remarkably high infectivity potential, where an infected individual can spread the virus to two to three other individuals when in close proximity. 8 While large-scale epidemiological studies from China have suggested that young and elderly individuals are equally susceptible to 9 it has also been shown that the latter subgroup, as well as patients with co-morbidities like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cardiac conditions are more likely to succumb to severe illness. 10 Hence, there is a real concern about the impact of COVID-19 in patients with cancer. To date, two case series have identified that patients with cancer habour an approximately two-fold increased risk of COVID-19, and reasons underpinning these observations include older patients, immunosuppressive therapies, and recurrent hospital visitations. 5, 11 Robust infection control measures are therefore crucial to prevent cross-transmission between patients and between patient and healthcare workers within the compounds of a cancer centre.