Management and infection control practices in a Taiwanese radiology department during the COVID-19 outbreak

Objective: The Radiology department played a crucial role in detecting and following up with the COVID-19 disease during the pandemic. The purpose of this review was to highlight and discuss the role of each imaging modality, in the radiology department, that can help in the current pandemic and to determine the challenges faced by staff and how to overcome them. Materials and Methods: A literature search was performed using different databases, including PubMed, Google scholar, and the college electronic library to access 2020 published related articles. Results: A chest computed tomogram (CT) was found to be superior to a chest radiograph, with regards to the early detection of COVID-19. Utilizing lung point of care ultrasound (POCUS) with pediatric patients, demonstrated excellent sensitivity and specificity, compared to a chest radiography. In addition, lung ultrasound (LUS) showed a high correlation with the disease severity assessed with CT. However, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has some limiting factors with regard to its clinical utilization, due to signal loss. The reported challenges that the radiology department faced were mainly related to infection control, staff workload, and the training of students. Conclusion: The choice of an imaging modality to provide a COVID-19 diagnosis is debatable. It depends on several factors that should be carefully considered, such as disease stage, mobility of the patient, and ease of applying infection control procedures. The pros and cons of each imaging modality were highlighted, as part of this review. To control the spread of the infection, precautionary measures such as the use of portable radiographic equipment and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) must be implemented.

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The Battle Against Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Emergency Management and Infection Control in a Radiology Department

Journal of the American College of Radiology ◽

10.1016/j.jacr.2020.03.011 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (6) ◽

pp. 710-716 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Zixing Huang ◽

Shuang Zhao ◽

Zhenlin Li ◽

Weixia Chen ◽

Lihong Zhao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Infection Control ◽

Emergency Management ◽

Radiology Department

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Radiology Department Infection Control According to Radiography Frequency and Disinfection Period

Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology ◽

10.7742/jksr.2011.5.2.073 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

pp. 73-80

Author(s):

Jae-Seung Lee ◽

Kyu-Hwan Jeong ◽

Gyoung-Hee Kim ◽

In-Chul Im ◽

Dae-Cheol Kweon ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Infection Control ◽

Radiology Department

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Loopholes in Current Infection Control and Prevention Practices Against COVID-19 in Radiology Department and Improvement Suggestions

Canadian Association of Radiologists Journal ◽

10.1177/0846537120916852 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 084653712091685 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Juan Yu ◽

Ning Ding ◽

Huan Chen ◽

Xia-Jing Liu ◽

Zu-Hui Pu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽

Infection Control ◽

Retrospective Analysis ◽

Radiology Department ◽

Poor Understanding ◽

Control And Prevention ◽

Current Infection ◽

Set Up ◽

Infection Control And Prevention

Objectives: To improve the infection control and prevention practices against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in radiology department through loophole identification and providing rectifying measurements. Methods: Retrospective analysis of 2 cases of health-care-associated COVID-19 transmission in 2 radiology departments and comparing the infection control and prevention practices against COVID-19 with the practices of our department, where no COVID-19 transmission has occurred. Results: Several loopholes have been identified in the infection control and prevention practices against COVID-19 of the 2 radiology departments. Loopholes were in large part due to our limited understanding of the highly contagious coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) which is characterized by features not observed in other SARS viruses. We recommend to set up an isolation zone for handling patients who do not meet the diagnostic criteria of COVID-19 but are not completely cleared of the possibility of infection. Conclusions: Loopholes in the infection control and prevention practices against COVID-19 of the 2 radiology departments are due to poor understanding of the emerging disease which can be fixed by establishing an isolation zone for patients not completely cleared of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

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Measuring Awareness of Infection Control Guidelines for Patients with COVID-19 in Radiology Departments in Saudi Arabia

Medical Sciences ◽

10.3390/medsci9010018 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 18

Author(s):

M. Almatari ◽

Ali Alghamdi ◽

Sultan Alamri ◽

Mufeed Otaibey ◽

Ahmad Joman Alghamdi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Saudi Arabia ◽

Medical Imaging ◽

Infection Control ◽

Health Workers ◽

Educational Interventions ◽

Radiology Department ◽

Control And Prevention ◽

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Mri ◽

Infection Control Guidelines ◽

Respiratory Droplets

Due to the contagious nature of the COVID-19 virus, healthcare workers are at a great risk of infection. Since medical imaging plays a significant part in the healthcare system and is often used in the diagnosis of potential COVID-19 patients, the radiology personnel are at a very high risk of becoming infected. Purpose: This study aims to assess the enforcement of infection control guidelines for patients with COVID-19 during medical imaging procedures and raise awareness of infection control in different hospitals in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A total of 128 responses were collected from four hospitals across Saudi Arabia using a new structured questionnaire, which was created for health workers by the WHO specifically for this purpose. Data were collected during the COVID-19 pandemic in April 2020. Results: Most participants correctly followed the guidelines of the WHO and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on infection control in the X-ray and general radiology departments. Guideline awareness was higher among magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computerised tomography (CT) radiographers, which reduced the risk of future infections. Out of the total respondents, 98.4% stated that they had received formal training in hand hygiene. Only 40.6% of participants, however, knew that respiratory droplets are the primary mode of transmission of the virus from person to person. Conclusion: The knowledge of healthcare professionals in the radiology department regarding infection control needs to be continually assessed. A focus on educational interventions on infection control is required in order to maintain well-informed medical staff.

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