SARS-CoV2 infection rate in patients and health care personnel in a chemoradiotherapy unit: A prospective cohort in Mexico.

Abstract

e22521 Background: Cancer treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic represents a challenge. Increased hospital visits to receive treatment as well as interaction with healthcare personnel (HCP), represent a potential risk factor for acquiring COVID-19. Our objective was to analyze the SARS-CoV-2 infection rate in patients (pts) with cancer and HCP of a chemoradiotherapy unit localized in a center designated as a COVID-19 priority facility in Mexico City. Methods: We invited HCP and pts with solid tumors attending the chemoradiotherapy unit to participate in a prospective follow-up cohort to early detect asymptomatic COVID-19 infection. Only participants who gave informed consent were included. A RT-PCR test for SARS-COV-2 from nasopharyngeal swab samples was performed every 2 weeks, and daily electronic clinical questionnaires were sent. Recruitment started on June 12, 2020. Participants entered the study in different moments and they were followed until a positive test for COVID-19 was found, or pts finished treatment or, HCP changed work area or, withdrawal of inform consent, or follow up completion, which ever occurred first. The last day of follow up was September 30, 2020. The general infection rate during all the period of follow-up was calculated, as well as the infection rate per month. Results: We included 130 asymptomatic participants, 44.6% (n = 58) were HCP and 55.4% (n = 72) were cancer pts, 45.9% (n = 61) were men, and 54.1% (n = 72) were women. During a median follow-up of 85 days (IQR 48-103) we performed 634 nasopharyngeal swabs for SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR, with a median number per participant of 5 (IQR 3-7). Within this period, 18 (13.5%) participants tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection. 12 were asymptomatic and 6 developed symptoms. None of them had a severe form of COVID-19 and we did not register any death associated to COVID-19. Table shows the infection rate per month. Conclusions: In our center, during the time period of follow up, the overall rate of COVID-19 infection was higher than that reported in a study from asymptomatic HCP and office workers in Mexico City (13.5 vs 8.4%). We also observed a monthly variation that was consistent with the months with the highest number of cases detected in Mexico City during the first wave. With careful implementation, it is feasible to continue to safely deliver systemic oncologic treatments during the COVID-19 pandemic.[Table: see text]