A primer for pediatric radiologists on infection control in an era of COVID-19

Area of Science:

• Radiology
• Infectious Disease Control
• Pediatric Healthcare

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic presents unique challenges for pediatric radiology departments globally.
• Existing professional guidelines inadequately address these specific pandemic-related issues.
• Ensuring staff safety while maintaining high-quality patient care is a critical concern.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current infection control practices in pediatric radiology institutions.
• To provide evidence-based recommendations and best practices for pediatric radiologists.
• To address the specific needs of pediatric radiology departments during the pandemic.

Main Methods:

• Review of infection control practices from multiple pediatric institutions.
• Analysis of current evidence-based recommendations for infection control.
• Discussion of transmission routes and necessary precautions.
• Exploration of strategies for optimizing personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies.

Main Results:

• Fundamental recommendations enable safe environments for personnel and optimal patient care.
• Understanding infectious transmission routes is key to implementing effective precautions.
• Strategies for optimizing personal protective equipment (PPE) are crucial for sustained operations.

Conclusions:

• Adherence to fundamental infection control recommendations is feasible and essential for pediatric radiology departments during the pandemic.
• Best practices involve understanding transmission, applying precautions, and managing PPE effectively.
• This work summarizes current evidence and best practices for pediatric radiologists in pandemic settings.