key: cord-0781168-msujj8y2
authors: Leonardo, Minelli Grazioli; Manuel, Milluzzo Sebastian; Cristiano, Spada
title: A safe endoscopy during COVID-19 pandemia
date: 2020-08-01
journal: Gastrointest Endosc
DOI: 10.1016/j.gie.2020.07.058
sha: 58dbe08fcf01138618327d30765832e90a650335
doc_id: 781168
cord_uid: msujj8y2

nan

We read with great interest the article by Repici et al 1 regarding the recommendations for the department of Endoscopy during SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) outbreak. Here, we report our experience in a tertiary care referral center in Brescia (North of Italy) with >18,000 procedures per year, which has been at the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in Europe, and a COVID-hospital since the beginning of March. During the COVID-19 outbreak, especially during the lockdown, endoscopy unit activities were limited to emergency and oncologic procedures in order to preserve both patients' and operators' health.

Seven physicians and 19 nurses were dispatched to the COVID-19 department. The remaining 4 physicians and 7 nurses were dedicated to the endoscopy unit. All procedures performed between March 1 and May 1, 2020, were considered high-risk procedures due to the dramatic incidence of infection in that period and in the specific geographic area (Fig. 1 ). Because of this and according to the recommendations by Repici et al, all operators wore high-risk dressing equipment (including hairnet, 2 pairs of gloves, water resistant gown, FFP2/3 respirator, face shield) with proper hand hygiene during donning and doffing.

Three hundred seventy-five procedures were performed (166 EGD, 144 colonoscopy, 21 ERCP, 23 EUS, 16 PEG, 5 VCE) in non-negative-pressure rooms. All patients wore surgical masks (except during upper endoscopy) and gloves. Twenty-three of those were established COVID-19 positive and underwent endoscopic procedures in a dedicated room. All rooms were disinfected and/or decontaminated at the end of each procedure.

No case of endoscopy unit transmission of infection was recorded during the observation period and for 15 days after May 1 between operators and patients. Since May 15, the hospital organized an extensive serological screening among the staff involved in the endoscopy unit confirming the absence of infection (IgM and IgG anti COVID-19: negative). In conclusion, the recommendations suggested by Repici et al seem to provide a safe and effective method to prevent SARS-CoV-2 diffusion in the department of endoscopy.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak: What the Department of Endoscopy Should Know

COVID-19 inpatients during SARS-CoV-2 outbreak