Safety Protocols for Radiation Therapy Patients & Staff Amid Coronavirus Outbreak

In Conclusion

An advisory by the association of radiation oncologists of India (AROI) for radiation therapy patients and staff amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.

Cancer patients are more susceptible to infection because of the following reasons

• Undergoing treatment in form of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy

• Patients with hematological malignancies

• Transplant patients on immunosuppressive therapy

• Elderly cancer patients with medical comorbidities

In order to contain the spread of novel COVID-19, some precautionary measures are required to be taken

How Do You Suspect A COVID 19 Case

A patient with fever & cough and breathing difficulty with

• Contact with suspected & confirmed COVID19 cases in the last few weeks
  Traveled to any of the countries where local transmission going on (WHO document)

• Healthcare worker caring for a confirmed COVID19 pts

• Severe pneumonia or ARDS

• A person living in the same household as COVID 19 case or direct contact with COVID 19 case without proper PPE

• Face to face contact with COVID 19 case within 1 meter or closed environments like an airplane or closed room gatherings

Directive To Patients

• Follow social distancing

• Stay at home as much as possible

• Avoid crowded areas

• Wash your hands frequently and correctly with a soap/ sanitizer

• Consider delaying your palliative radiotherapy if it is only for minor symptom relief and has no impact on outcome or disease control

• Elderly patients, especially with symptoms, are at highest risk and extra precaution should be taken

Directives To Healthcare Professionals

General Measures

• Provide a clean and spacious waiting area with adequate distance between Chairs

• Provide mask and hand hygiene aids like sanitizer, hand-wash, gloves at outpatient area

• Protocol for temperature and vitals checking for patients

• Special care to suspected/vulnerable patients by dedicated & trained staff

• Protocol for COVID 19 screening & isolation

• All international travelers should submit a self-declaration form which can be submitted at the counters

• Certain countries are high transmission countries and travelers from those countries are advised to undergo 14 days self-quarantine from the date of arrival

• All such suspected patients should be handled as per institutional policies and guidelines/helplines provided by the government