Requirements for working environment and positions

Requirements for working environment [7]
An independent medical imaging examination room is needed and different working areas should be strictly separated.I. To prevent cross-infection, an independent medical imaging examination area or a dedicated radiological examination equipment (including X-ray photography equipment and CT scanner for infected patients) as well as a dedicated film printer should be available. According to the requirements for nosocomial infection prevention and control, the polluted area, semi-polluted area, and cleaning area need to be strictly separated and disinfected. If a dedicated examination room (such as a CT room) cannot be separated from others, strict equipment and air disinfection are required after the current patient scan and between patient encounters. Fever clinics, radiological contaminated and semi-contaminated areas, and isolation wards are the key areas for healthcare-associated infections prevention and control, which must be terminally disinfected after the examinations for confirmed patients and before the examinations for next suspected patients.
II. A dedicated radiological examinations route must be established.
III. Batch-based and time-separated services should be carried out for confirmed patients and suspected patients in fever clinic and ward, with a subsequent strict disinfection.

Requirements for medical staff in radiology department [8]
Administrator of nosocomial infections: at least one administrator needs to be designed, who is responsible for directing and supervising the disinfection and protection in the radiology department. They must guide the whole disinfection, make a clear division, and report in time to guarantee the staff and patients by avoiding to be infected by the virus.

Radiographers for bedside X-ray photography
Specific radiographers need to be arranged to carry out bedside X-ray photography in key areas and take standardized photography. These radiographers are required to strictly implement the secondary level of protection. In the case of work that may cause spraying or splashing of respiratory secretions and substances of the body, such as sputum aspiration, respiratory sampling, endotracheal intubation, and tracheotomy, the third level of protection is required. After each examination, the surface of equipment should be disinfected (wiped with 75% ethanol).

Radiographers for digital radiography (DR) and CT examinations
The radiographers in charge of patient position should strictly implement the secondary level of protection. The radiographers in charge of operating equipment can adopt the first or secondary level of protection.

Staff for patient registration in the key areas
Patient registration should be completed by the radiographers in the key areas, and any material being in contact with the confirmed patients must be separately and safely stored. Staff for patient registration in the non-key area should take the primary level of prevention. It is recommended to make full use of the hospital information system (HIS), picture archiving and communication system (PACS), and radiology information system (RIS) to achieve paperless management.

Other staff working in the non-key areas in the radiology department
It is recommended to take the general protection when working in the cleaning areas, take the primary protection when working in the semi-contaminated areas, and take the secondary protection when working in the contaminated areas. In the case of work that may cause spraying or splashing of respiratory secretions and substances of the body, such as sputum aspiration, respiratory sampling, endotracheal intubation, and tracheotomy, the third level of protection is required.

Working mode for radiographers in key areas (trial)
The radiographers for bedside X-ray photography, DR, and CT examinations working in the isolation area are recommended to take a 2 + 2 working mode, due to the possibility of closely contacting with the confirmed patients. In the 2 + 2 working mode, the radiographers should complete a first period of 14 workdays in the isolation area, and subsequently take a second period of 14 days in a specific dedicated isolation ward for supervised medical observation before returning to normal work.