Successful management plan of COVID-19 in a pediatric hemato-oncology department: a single-centre experience

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic presented significant challenges for managing pediatric cancer patients.
• Protecting vulnerable populations, like children undergoing cancer treatment, from SARS-CoV-2 infection was a critical concern.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the operational system implemented by the Hemato-Oncology Department at Santobono-Pausilipon Hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of a structured screening and zoning protocol in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infections among pediatric cancer patients and their caregivers.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a three-zone system: surveillance and screening, quarantine, and COVID-free zones.
• Rapid serological testing for SARS-CoV-2 was conducted on 662 patients and caregivers over 56 days (April 3 to May 29, 2020).
• A total of 1397 serological assays were performed.

Main Results:

• No SARS-CoV-2 infections were detected in any of the screened pediatric cancer patients or their caregivers.
• The implemented screening process and departmental zoning effectively prevented cross-infection within the hospital setting.

Conclusions:

• The applied operational system, including rigorous screening and zone management, was highly effective in safeguarding pediatric cancer patients and caregivers from COVID-19.
• This protocol demonstrates a successful strategy for managing high-risk patient populations during a viral pandemic.