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ISUOG Safety Committee Position Statement on use of personal protective equipment and hazard mitigation in relation to SARS‐CoV‐2 for practitioners undertaking obstetric and gynecological ultrasound
Author(s) -
Abramowicz J. S.,
Basseal J. M.,
Brezinka C.,
Dall'Asta A.,
Deng J.,
Harrison G.,
Lee J. C. S.,
Lim A.,
Maršal K.,
Miloro P.,
Poon L. C.,
Salvesen K. Å.,
Sande R.,
Haar G.,
Westerway S. C.,
Xie M. X.,
Lees C.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
ultrasound in obstetrics and gynecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.202
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1469-0705
pISSN - 0960-7692
DOI - 10.1002/uog.22035
Subject(s) - medicine , personal protective equipment , covid-19 , position statement , hazard , position (finance) , medical emergency , family medicine , virology , pathology , chemistry , disease , organic chemistry , finance , outbreak , infectious disease (medical specialty) , economics
In view of the challenges of the current coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology (ISUOG) has compiled the following expert-opinion-based guidance on safe use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and how to reduce the hazard of SARS-CoV-2 infection for clinicians undertaking ultrasound examinations (physicians, sonographers and allied professionals). The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has released a technical report for wearing and removing PPE in healthcare settings managing patients with suspected or confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)1, as have the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)2, World Health Organization (WHO)3 and, in the UK, Public Health England (PHE)4. At the time of writing, none of these recommendations has addressed the safe use of PPE when performing ultrasound examinations specifically. As guidance in relation to PPE differs from country to country and region to region, we recommend that local guidance is followed when this is available; if no guidance specific to ultrasound examinations exists, this document may be referenced. This guidance describes steps that may be taken to minimize the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission between the patient and the practitioner during ultrasound examinations. It is important to note that many of the measures discussed in this document are supported by limited research-based evidence. This may explain why advice varies widely between different parts of the world (Appendix S1). Nevertheless, the authors, several of whom work in some of the areas first affected by the virus, including China (Appendix S2), Singapore, Hong Kong and Italy, have been able to synthesize what are believed to be the most effective interventions for reducing the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 between patients and healthcare providers. BACKGROUND: RISK OF INFECTION DURING ULTRASOUND ASSESSMENT