key: cord-1051103-gjehkjfw
authors: Fujimura, Hiroyuki; Nishikawa, Jun; Okamoto, Takeshi; Goto, Atsushi; Hamabe, Koichi; Sakaida, Isao
title: Use of portable partitions with high-efficiency particulate air filters in the endoscopy unit
date: 2021-02-03
journal: Endosc Int Open
DOI: 10.1055/a-1322-2761
sha: 08ad385c22e1643f21def92837156eb346a28866
doc_id: 1051103
cord_uid: gjehkjfw

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Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is one of the procedures with a high risk for spreading SARS-CoV-2 because the virus infects via aerosol transmission [1] . When Endoscopic procedures performed on patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 should be conducted in a negative-pressure room [2, 3] . Testing of SARS-CoV-2positive patients may be routine because they are asymptomatic and a significant number of these individuals also exhibit gastrointestinal symptoms [2] . Several strategies have been suggested to reduce the risk of transmitting the infection during gastrointestinal endoscopy [4] . We have placed in our endoscopy units portable partitions with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters. The HEPA designation requires that a filter capture 99.97 % of particles ≥ 0.3 µm in size in that pass through it. Knowledge of HEPA filter functionality and prior Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance for SARS-CoV-1 suggest the theoretical efficacy of HEPA filters for removing airborne SARS-CoV-2 [5] . To arrange the HEPA partitions properly, we evaluated the efficacy of placement by using CO 2 generated from dry ice. Partitions with filters were placed on both sides of the endoscopy unit (▶ Fig. 1) . The partition placed near the patient's back draws in air flowing over the patient, whereas the partition placed on the patient's ventral side draws in air from the adjacent endoscopic unit and its output is filtered air. By adjusting the position of the partition and the operator, airflow can be directed toward the patient's back (▶ Fig. 2 and ▶ Video 1). Combination devices with mechanical protection like the C-Cube [4] and a clean partition may be one countermeasure for ensuring the removal of aerosols containing SARS-CoV-2.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak: what the department of endoscopy should know

Practice of endoscopy during COVID-19 pandemic: position statements of the Asian Pacific Society for Digestive Endoscopy (APSDE-COVID statements)

The C-Cube: an endoscopic solution in the time of COVID-19

High-efficiency particulate air filters in the era of COVID-19: Function and efficacy

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.