COVID-19 Measures Suggested To Protect Cancer Patients

Author: By Lynda Williams, Senior medwireNews Reporter 

medwireNews: A series of actions taken to reduce the risk of COVID-19 among cancer patients has been reported by Chinese clinicians in JAMA Oncology. 

Jie Wang and colleagues, at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College in Beijing, describe a number of mandatory measures implemented from 12 February 2020 at the Cancer Hospital to reduce visitor numbers, such as use of online registration and provision of daily opportunities for online consultations on medications and symptom management. 

In addition, temperature testing was performed at hospital entrances, outpatient clinics and on the hospital wards, and recordings of contact and travel histories were taken for all visitors to the Cancer Hospital. 

Admitted patients were asked to take personal protective measures, such as bringing disinfectant and wearing a mask, and were screened for fever, cough and other symptoms potentially associated with COVID-19. Inpatients also underwent blood tests and high-resolution lung computed tomography, with virus testing for any patient with suspected pneumonia. 

Finally, anticancer treatments were switched from infusions to oral therapies where possible, and infusion intervals were extended for some patients undergoing adjuvant or maintenance chemotherapy. 

By 2 March 2020, 2795 outpatients and 149 inpatients had attended the Cancer Hospital for consultation or treatment. Screening identified radiological signs of inflammation or multiple-site exudative pneumonia in 27 patients, including eight suspected cases of COVID-19, but nucleic acid testing ruled out the diagnosis in all patients. 

“Under the strict protective measures, not a single patient or staff member had been diagnosed with COVID-19 infection as of March 3, 2020”, report Jie Wang et al. 

“Both the effective prevention of cross infection of COVID-19 and the rational arrangement of anticancer treatment are extremely important”, the authors summarise. 

“The measures we are taking may be of great value to help guide patients with cancer smoothly and safely through the epidemic.” 

Reference  

Wang Z, Wang J, He J. Active and effective measures for the care of patients with cancer during the COVID-19 spread in China. JAMA Oncol; Advance online publication 1 April 2020. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2020.1198