Abstract
Aim:Since SARS-CoV-2 infection rapidly spread around the world, Italy has quickly become one of the most affected countries. Healthcare systems introduced strict infection control measures to ensure optimal care, especially in frail groups such as cancer patients (pts). This study investigated the efficacy of SARS-CoV-2 pre-procedure screening and whether COVID-19 influenced timely diagnosis and therapy.Methods:Data of oncological procedures of pts with confirmed or suspected cancer diagnosis, treated at Oncology Department or coming from Emergency Department of San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital between June 2020 and March 2021 were retrospectively collected. A nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) was performed in outpatients 24/48 h before procedures. Inpatients were tested by NPS before and after hospitalization.Results:Two hundred and twenty-one pts were included in this analysis. Median age was 73 years, males were 58%. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status was 0 or 1 in 88% of pts. The most frequent cancer type was lung cancer (57%). Stages IV were 77%. Two hundred and forty-three scheduled procedures were performed with diagnostic (n: 142; 58%), therapeutic (n: 55; 23%), and palliative (n: 46; 19%) intent. One hundred and four and 139 procedures were performed in out- and in-pts, respectively. Of the 234 NPS performed, 10 (4%) were positive. Two pts were infected during hospitalization, 8 in community. Most of them were asymptomatic, while only 2 had mild symptoms. Eight procedures (3%) were postponed, 1 cancelled, while 2 were performed in positive pts. Median time to resolution of the infection was 17 days (11–36). Median delay in the procedures was 25 days (14–55). Five pts started systemic treatment, after a median time of 37.5 days (13–57).Conclusions:SARS-CoV-2 infection led to the postponement of a small, but not negligible percentage of oncological procedures. However, the low infection rate observed suggests that structured screening for COVID-19 is critical for the best management of scheduled procedures during pandemic.
Highlights
At the end of 2019, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was first reported in Wuhan, China, and rapidly spread across the globe
Two hundred and twenty-one pts were included in this analysis
SARS-CoV-2 infection led to the postponement of a small, but not negligible percentage of oncological procedures
Summary
At the end of 2019, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was first reported in Wuhan, China, and rapidly spread across the globe. Patients (pts) with cancer were considered to be at high risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection due to both low immunity and the need for regular hospital access for cancer treatment [2, 3]. Cancer pts were observed to have an increased risk of serious clinical complications compared with pts without cancer [4]. In this challenging situation, non-urgent health services have been suspended, while health facilities have made efforts to ensure pts have access to diagnostic, therapeutic and palliative cancer services. In order to prevent the transmission and ensure optimal care, healthcare systems modified their practice by introducing strict infection control measures for hospital access [5,6,7]
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