Covid-19: free resources to support radiographers

Abstract

The first report of a new Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) was in December 2019 and the disease was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in March 20201. At this point WHO called on governments to change the course of the outbreak by taking urgent and aggressive action. By the end of April, the number of cases was in excess of 3 million with 211,350 deaths worldwide. Covid-19 is related to previous pandemics - SARS-CoV-1 (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)2 and it can be asymptomatic or result in mild to severe symptoms. Unlike influenza it can be contagious before symptoms are apparent3. Due to the highly contagious nature of the disease, rapid and reliable diagnosis is critical. Medical imaging has valuable roles in the diagnosis and management of the Covid-19 patient and radiographers have already started to share their experiences with imaging it45678. Chest computed tomography (CT) has diagnostic value9, though presents challenges including CT availability, the complexity of imaging patients who may be on ventilators and the time taken to decontaminate the CT scanner and room after a Covid-19 patient has used it. For these reasons mobile chest radiography (CXR) has become the most commonly utilised imaging modality for the radiological follow up of lung abnormalities1