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. 2020 Jul;47(7):1645-1648.
doi: 10.1007/s00259-020-04790-2. Epub 2020 Mar 30.

Facing a disruptive threat: how can a nuclear medicine service be prepared for the coronavirus outbreak 2020?

Winnie Wing-Chuen Lam  1   2 , Kelvin Siu-Hoong Loke  3   4 , Wai Yin Wong  3   4 , David Chee-Eng Ng  3   4
Affiliations

Facing a disruptive threat: how can a nuclear medicine service be prepared for the coronavirus outbreak 2020?

Winnie Wing-Chuen Lam et al. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2020 Jul.

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this short communication is to outline our experience in policies and processes of a nuclear medicine service during the COVID-19 outbreak in Singapore.

Methods: We describe the key considerations of policies and processes that have been implemented in our nuclear medicine service since the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in Singapore General Hospital on 23 January 2020, up to the present time.

Results: Infection control, screening of patients and visitors, segregation of risk groups, segregation of staff and service continuity plans, communication and staff welfare, using electronic platforms for multi-disciplinary meetings and tele-reporting are discussed.

Conclusion: Since our hospital received the first patient with COVID-19 in Singapore, our centre has managed 16 COVID-19 cases to date. There has not been any healthcare worker in our institution who has contracted COVID-19 through patient contact. We have highlighted for discussion some of the policies and processes to prepare a nuclear medicine service for the COVID-19 threat.

Keywords: COVID-19; Infection; Nuclear medicine; SARS-CoV-2.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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