Single Center Experience on Screening Oncology Patients for Covid-19 Before Anti-Cancer Treatment

Abstract

The most important factor in the transmission of the COVID-19 is asymptomatic carriers. We’ve tested all oncology patients , that receive anti-cancer therapy, for COVID-19. We aimed to determine the rate of asymptomatic carriers, and analyze the clinical and ra- diological findings of infected patients. Oncology patients who have indications of receiving anti-cancer treatment in the hospital were tested for COVID-19, two day prior to their treatment even if they were asymptomatic by collecting nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swab specimens for RT-PCR for viral RNA detection. Positive patients, underwent inspiratory phase of chest computed tomography examination. Infected patients were given the recommended treatment for COVID-19. PCR test was positive in 28 of 312 patients that we tested, and the positivity rate was 8.9%. Three patients (10.7%) had symptoms, 25 patients (89.3%) had no symptoms. Covid-19 testing before anti-cancer treatment may be recommended in order to continue their treatment without any problems and to prevent the risk of transmission due to the high rate of asymptomatics in infected patients. Keywords: COVID-19, Pandemic, Chemotherapy, Oncology

Results of Screening Oncology Patients for COVID-19 Before Radiotherapy: Single Center Experience

“…Seven (46%) of the 15 patients we identified with the PCR test died from COVID-19. Similar mortality rates have been reported in the study of Acar et al (%46,5). 6 In the study of Namal et al, only 1 of 28 COVİD-19 infected patients died.…”

“…4 Namal et al, found 8.9% COV-ID-19 positivity when they screened 312 patients before chemotherapy and 89.3% of them were asymptomatic. 5 In Namal's study infection rate and the asymptomatic infection rate were higher compared to our study. The authors suggested that this high rate of asymptomatic infection may be a reflection of the immune-suppressive condition of cancer patients.…”

“…6 In the study of Namal et al, only 1 of 28 COVİD-19 infected patients died. 5 When compared to Namal's study, in our study mortality (%46) was higher. There may be several reasons for the higher death rate.…”

“…Being older, having comorbidities in addition to cancer, and International Journal of Hematology and Oncology being metastatic may be a factor in high mortality. 5 In a nationwide cohort study in China, Liang et al found that patients with cancer not only had a higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, but also an increased risk of serious clinical events (ICU admission, need for invasive ventilation, or death) compared to non-cancer patients. 1 In this study, 39% of cancer patients with COVID-19 developed severe symptoms, while only 8% of non-cancer COVID-19 patients developed severe symptoms.…”