Quarantine is clinically necessary following high-dose radiation contamination
the verdict
CONTESTED
contested - the weight sits with the supporting side
refutedsupported
the weight of evidence
2 sources for · 0 against
Medical literature notes that accidental radiation exposures may occur and discusses general control methods like quarantine for biological agents, but does not firmly establish that quarantine is clinically necessary specifically for high-dose radiation contamination.
Medical radiation accidents and unintended events may lead to accidental or unintended medical exposure of patients and exposure of staff or the public. Most unintended exposures in nuclear medicine will lead to a small increase in risk; nevertheless, these require investigation and a clinical and dosimetric assessment. Nuclear medicine staff are exposed to radiation emitted directly by radiopharmaceuticals and by patients after administration of radiopharmaceuticals. This is particularly relevant in PET, due to the penetrating 511 keV γ-rays. Dose constraints should be set for planning the exposure of individuals. Staff body doses of 1-25 µSv/GBq are reported for PET imaging, the largest component being from the injection. The preparation and administration of radiopharmaceuticals can lead to high doses to the hands, challenging dose limits for radionuclides such as 90Y and even 18F. The risks of contamination can be minimized by basic precautions, such as carrying out manipulations in purpose-built facilities, wearing protective clothing, especially gloves, and removing contaminated gloves or any skin contamination as quickly as possible. Airborne contamination is a potential problem when handling radioisotopes of iodine or administering radioaerosols. Manipulating radiopharmaceuticals in laminar air flow cabinets, and appropriate premises ventilation are necessary to improve safety levels. Ensuring patient safety and minimizing the risk of incidents require efficient overall quality management. Critical aspects include: the booking process, particularly if qualified medical supervision is not present; administration of radiopharmaceuticals to patients, with the risk of misadministration or extravasation; management of patients' data and images by information technology systems, considering the possibility of misalignment between patient personal data and clinical information. Prevention of possible mistakes in patient identification or in the management of patients with similar names requires particular attention. Appropriate management of pregnant or breast-feeding patients is another important aspect of radiation safety. In radiopharmacy activities, strict quality assurance should be implemented at all operational levels, in addition to adherence to national and international regulations and guidelines. This includes not only administrative aspects, like checking the request/prescription, patient's data and the details of the requested procedure, but also quantitative tests according to national/international pharmacopoeias, and measuring the dispensed activity with a calibrated activity meter prior to administration. In therapy with radionuclides, skin tissue reactions can occur following extravasation, which can result in localized doses of tens of Grays. Other relevant incidents include confusion of products for patients administered at the same time or malfunction of administration devices. Furthermore, errors in internal radiation dosimetry calculations for treatment planning may lead to under or over-treatment. According to literature, proper instructions are fundamental to keep effective dose to caregivers and family members after patient discharge below the Dose constraints. The IAEA Basic Safety Standards require measures to minimize the likelihood of any unintended or accidental medical exposures and reporting any radiation incident. The relative complexity of nuclear medicine practice presents many possibilities for errors. It is therefore important that all activities are performed according to well established procedures, and that all actions are supported by regular quality assurance/QC procedures.
tion of potentially infected persons and the biological agents involved increases the effectiveness of methods to control the spread of disease (isolation, quarantine, barrier methods [gloves, filter masks, and eye protection], and hand washing). When quarantine is necessary it is critical that there is continuity of provision of care and command and control in order to ensure the best possible outcomes. Chemical
Following a chemical exposure, first responders often need to detain exposed people in a quarantine area to isolate them from nonexposed people and areas and to provide rapid decontamination and medical treatment. By treating exposed people according to their clinical syndrome, rather than waiting on the identification of the specific chemical involved, first responders can provide the most rapid, aggressive, and clinically relevant care. 25 This alignment of treatment modalities based on syndromic categories is believed to provide for better outcomes and faster release of exposed persons. Radiological and Nuclear
Radiological and nuclear incidents are often confused with one another. For the purposes of emergency management and disaster medicine, a nuclear incident involves a nuclear detonation, whereas all other radiation incidents are called radiological incidents. 26
Although the sources may differ between the two, the exposure requiring isolation, quarantine, decontamination, and treatment is the same for both incidents. With radiological and nuclear exposures, first responders will need to detain exposed people in a quarantine area to provide rapid assessment of injuries. Injured people should receive immediate medical treatment and transportation to a hospital facility for additional treatment and appropriate decontamination. The noninjured will be assessed for level of contamination for determination of type of decontamination process (emergency decontamination on site or at hospital or delayed decontamination at home). 27
Execution of Quarantine
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