Contamination of CT scanner surfaces with SARS-CoV-2 and infective potential after examination of invasively ventilated, non-invasively ventilated and non-ventilated patients with positive throat swabs: prospective investigation using real-time reverse-transcription PCR and viral cell culture

[Expert Opinion Questionnaire About Chest CT Scan Using A Negative Pressure Isolation Strecher in COVID-19 Patients: Image Quality and Infection Risk]

PURPOSE

To survey perceptions of certified physicians on the protocol of chest CT in patients with coronavirus (COVID-19) using a negative pressure isolation stretcher (NPIS).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study collected questionnaire responses from a total of 27 certified physicians who had previously performed chest CT with NPIS in COVID-19 isolation hospitals.

RESULTS

The nine surveyed hospitals performed an average of 116 chest CT examinations with NPIS each year. Of these, an average of 24 cases (21%) were contrast chest CT. Of the 9 pulmonologists we surveyed, 5 (56%) agreed that patients who showed abnormalities in serum D-dimer required contrast chest CT. All 9 surveyed radiologists agreed that the image quality of the chest CT with NPIS was sufficient for CT image interpretation regarding pneumonia or pulmonary embolism. Furthermore, in our 9 surveyed infectionologists, 5 (56%) agreed that a risk of secondary infection in the CT room after temporary opening of NPIS could be prevented through a process of disinfection.

CONCLUSION

Experienced physicians considered that the effects of NIPS on chest CT image quality was minimal in patients with COVID-19, and the risk of CT room contamination was easily controlled.

Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs): Challenges and Measures Taken by the Radiology Department to Control Infection Transmission

Infections contracted during healthcare delivery in a hospital or ambulatory setting are collectively referred to as healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Healthcare workers and patients alike are vulnerable to serious problems as a result of the risk of HAIs. In the healthcare system, HAIs are considered among the most common and serious health problems. However, the occurrence of HAIs differs between different types of clinical departments within the hospital. Recently, the risk of HAIs has been increasing in radiology departments globally due to the central role of radiology in guiding clinical decisions for the diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of different diseases from almost all medical specialties. The radiology department is particularly vulnerable to HAIs because it serves as a transit hub for infected patients, non-infected patients, and healthcare workers. Furthermore, as the number of patients referred to radiology and the length of patient contact time has increased, thanks to modern imaging techniques such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, the risk of HAIs has also increased significantly. With the increasing use of interventional radiological procedures, patients and healthcare workers face a potentially greater risk of contracting HAIs due to the invasive nature of such procedures. Although not exhaustive, we attempted through a literature search to provide a general overview of infection prevention and control practices, address HAIs in the radiology departments, and highlight the challenges and measures taken to control infection transmission in the radiology departments.

Disinfection and decontamination in the context of SARS-CoV-2-specific data

Given the high transmissibility of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) as witnessed early in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, concerns arose with the existing methods for virus disinfection and decontamination. The need for SARS-CoV-2-specific data stimulated considerable research in this regard. Overall, SARS-CoV-2 is practically and equally susceptible to approaches for disinfection and decontamination that have been previously found for other human or animal coronaviruses. The latter have included techniques utilizing temperature modulation, pH extremes, irradiation, and chemical treatments. These physicochemical methods are a necessary adjunct to other prevention strategies, given the environmental and patient surface ubiquity of the virus. Classic studies of disinfection have also allowed for extrapolation to the eradication of the virus on human mucosal surfaces by some chemical means. Despite considerable laboratory study, practical field assessments are generally lacking and need to be encouraged to confirm the correlation of interventions with viral eradication and infection prevention. Transparency in the constitution and use of any method or chemical is also essential to furthering practical applications.