For patients with pneumonia and COVID19 repeating chest radiography is recommend in current British Thoracic Society (BTS) guidelines. Over two distinct time periods during the COVID19 pandemic (Aug-Dec 2020, Jun-Aug 2021) we undertook an audit of 829 patients hospitalised with infective radiological change (pneumonia=481, COVID19=348). 654/829 patients (79%) required radiological follow-up under BTS guideline criteria. 414/654 (63%) were planned, 322/654 (49%) occurred and, of patients receiving radiological follow-up, most occurred within BTS timelines (86%). Further audits should be conducted to ensure BTS guidelines adherence, to avoid delay in diagnosing underlying malignancy or chronic lung disease.
Radiological follow-up of adults hospitalised with pneumonia and SARS-CoV-2 infection, in Bristol UK, during the COVID19 pandemic