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Comprehensive gastroenterology endoscopy unit workflow and infection prevention during the COVID‐19 Pandemic: Experience with 159 cases in Wuhan, China
Author(s) -
Yu Qiong,
Xu Peng,
Gan Hongying,
Jia Yegui,
Xiao Dan,
Liao Wenfei,
Pi Guoliang,
Yu Weizhong
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
digestive endoscopy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.5
H-Index - 56
eISSN - 1443-1661
pISSN - 0915-5635
DOI - 10.1111/den.13832
Subject(s) - medicine , pandemic , endoscopy , infection control , covid-19 , transmission (telecommunications) , coronavirus , outbreak , gastroenterology , disease , emergency medicine , intensive care medicine , pathology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , electrical engineering , engineering
During the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) in Wuhan, the gastroenterology department of our hospital performed gastrointestinal endoscopy procedures using strict infection control measures. Thorough screening of incoming patients, separation of diagnostic and treatment areas, regional management, hierarchical protection, disinfection protocols, and other measures were enforced to prevent virus transmission during endoscopic treatments. During the COVID‐19 pandemic, between February and March 2020, 159 endoscopic examinations and treatments were performed, including emergency endoscopy for 17 patients. Among these, seven patients were either previously infected with or were suspected carriers of the virus. Using the aforementioned control measures, we did not encounter a single case of cross‐infection or infection among the patients or staff. The presented protocols may provide valuable insight regarding how to protect gastroenterology endoscopy units during the novel coronavirus disease pandemic.