Investigation and analysis on the infection control and radiation safety of radiodiagnostic workplace for COVID-19

Objectives To survey and supervise the risk of infection control and radiation safety in the radiological diagnostic workplace for novel coronavirus pneumonia(COVID-19), and provide data support for the safety protection of radiographers and related staff. Methods 4 emergency hospitals for COVID-19 including 2 makeshift hospitals, module hospital and brick pattern hospital were performed the testing and evaluation of imaging performance and radiological protection for the 8 new installed CT scanners and places according to the national standards of WS 519-2019 and GBZ 130-2013. The infection control safety factors such as the layout of the equipment room were monitored and investigated. Two COVID-19 designated hospitals including general hospital and infectious disease specialized hospital were selected to carry out field investigation and sampling of environmental biological samples for 4 CT rooms. Then the samples were detected for the nucleic acid of novel coronavirus. The results of radiodiagnostic workplace overall arrangement, infection prevention and the nucleic acid testing were analyzed, and the biological safety reliability and risk point were evaluated. Results The indicators of imaging performance and radiation protection for 8 CT scanners in emergency hospitals could meet the requirements of national standards. Each of 2 makeshift hospitals had 3 CT rooms with the area of 38.8 m2 and shielding protection of 4 mm Pb. The CT rooms in module hospital and brick pattern hospital had the area and shielding protection of 20.0 m2, 4 mm Pb equivalent and 35.8 m2, 3 mm Pb equivalent, respectively. The 8 radiological diagnostic workplaces of the emergency hospitals were designed and constructed based on "three zones with two passageways" . The testing results of the nucleic acid indicated that the multiple sites such as scanning bed, internal of gantry and ground touched by patients in CT scanning room were found positive samples. The areas such as console panel and ground were got polluted risk by the virus infected hands and feet of radiographers. In addition, the areas in scanning room with no touch of patients, such as observation window and air outlet, were found similar positive samples. Conclusions: 8 CT scanners and rooms in 4 emergency hospitals basically meet the requirements of imaging performance and radiation protection. The disinfection of COVID-19 radiodiagnostic workplace should be standardized. Key words: COVID-19; Radiodiagnostic workplace; Radiation safety; Infection control; Module CT