key: cord-0820977-23smpifx authors: Amicucci, Matteo; Perigli, Federica; D'Elpidio, Giuliana; Ripà, Adele; Mastronuzzi, Angela; De Ioris, Maria Antonietta; Schiopu, Andreea Cristina; Dall'Oglio, Immacolata; Ciaralli, Italo title: A pediatric COVID hematology/oncology ward to guarantee adequate medical and nursing assistance date: 2021-06-01 journal: Pediatr Blood Cancer DOI: 10.1002/pbc.29113 sha: 892c79eda7fb067f67449080c1d965a6604c644f doc_id: 820977 cord_uid: 23smpifx nan The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused an interruption to several health services and the significant slowdown of many others. In Italy, a recent national survey concluded that there have been no major problems in ensuring care for the pediatric oncohematology population. 1 year, 120-140 of which are allogeneic. The COVID-19 situation began to spiral out of control from phase 2, with the end of the lockdown and the gradual return to normality. 2 In the first phase, due to the national guidelines and lockdown, the hematology/oncology Department managed to work without downturns and clinical issues for patients or health care personnel. In the second phase, the situation worsened. In fact, despite attentive care, we recorded a substantial increase in the number of department staff infected with the virus, and the virus also spread among patients. Only patients with negative swabs were hospitalized, as for their carergivers. Telephone and on-site screenings were performed on patients who were treated in the hospital or at home. Swabs were taken and tested in case of symptoms or suspicion of COVID. Despite these measures, from May to December of 2020, the number of COVID-positive individuals in our department increased dramatically. In December, the number with positive COVID tests was 31: 24 nurses, four doctors, two carergivers, and one non-health personnel. In regard to patients, there were only seven COVID-positive cases recorded until October. Four asymptomatic patients were monitored in home care for medical and nursing procedures (e.g., dressing of venous accesses, wounds, infusion antibiotic therapy, blood control, etc.). The remaining three patients were undergoing chemo-or immune-therapy treatment, which could not be interrupted. They were immunosuppressed and therefore hospitalized in the infectious dis- For this reason, at the end of October, one of our hematology/oncology wards was converted into a COVID hematology/oncology ward. The main purpose for opening this dedicated ward was to guarantee adequate medical and nursing assistance, as well as to continue treatment of the COVID-positive pediatric oncohematology patients. The COVID hematology/oncology ward had a total of six beds and a staff that included two nurses, two doctors, and one It is predictable that a "delicate" patient population such as the oncological one would be particularly affected by COVID-19, 9 especially in light of the case studies communicated by some northern hospitals where the percentages were close to 20% of adult oncology patients. 10 Implementing most of the described and recommended precautions has allowed us to contain the spread of the virus. Oncohematology activities at our institute have progressed without suffering particular slowdowns. The ward is now open again to non-COVID oncohematology patients, and the staff has been downsized. We hope that this experience will be able to help others in similar situations in the future. How we have protected our patients: the Italian pediatric onco-hematology units' response to the COVID-19 pandemic Clinical characteristics and outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Italian pediatric oncology patients: a study from the Infectious Diseases Working Group of the AIEOP Screening for SARS-CoV-2 infection in pediatric oncology patients during the epidemic peak in Italy Children with cancer in the time of COVID-19: an 8-week report from the six pediatric onco-hematology centers in Caring for patients with cancer during the COVID-19 outbreak in Italy Reorganisation of medical oncology departments during the novel coronavirus disease-19 pandemic: a nationwide Italian survey Lessons after the early management of the COVID-19 outbreak in a pediatric transplant and hemato-oncology center embedded within a COVID-19 dedicated hospital in Lombardia, Italy. Estote parati Strategic plan for management of COVID-19 in paediatric haematology and oncology departments Early advice on managing children with cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic and a call for sharing experiences How young patients with cancer perceive the COVID-19 (coronavirus) epidemic in Milan, Italy: is there room for other fears? Pediatr Blood Cancer A pediatric COVID hematology/oncology ward to guarantee adequate medical and nursing assistance The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.