Approach to endoscopic procedures: a routine protocol from a quaternary university referral center exclusively for coronavirus disease 2019 patients

OBJECTIVES: The present coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has ushered in an unprecedented era of quality control that has necessitated advanced safety precautions and the need to ensure the adequate protection of healthcare professionals (HCPs). Endoscopy units, endoscopists, and other HCP may be at a significant risk for transmission of the virus. Given the immense burden on the healthcare system and surge in the number of patients with COVID-19, well-designed protocols and recommendations are needed. We aimed to systematically characterize our approach to endoscopic procedures in a quaternary university hospital setting and provide summary protocol recommendations. METHOD: This descriptive study details a COVID-19-specific protocol designed to minimize infection risks to patients and healthcare workers in the endoscopy unit. RESULTS: Our institution, located in São Paulo, Brazil, includes a 900-bed hospital, with a 200-bed-specific intensive care unit exclusively designed for patients with moderate and severe COVID-19. We highlighted recommendations for infection prevention and control during endoscopic procedures, including appropriate triage and screening, outpatient management and procedural recommendations, role and usage of personal protective equipment (PPE), and role and procedural logistics involving COVID-19-positive patients. We also detailed hospital protocols for reprocessing endoscopes and cleaning rooms and also provided recommendations to minimize severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 transmission. CONCLUSION: This COVID-19-specific administrative and clinical protocol can be replicated or adapted in multiple institutions and endoscopy units worldwide. Furthermore, the recommendations and summary protocol may improve patient and HCP safety in these trying times.

Comparação de custos em diferentes processos de abastecimento de materiais de fisioterapia respiratória em um hospital público de porte extra / Costs comparison in different supply processes of respiratory physiotherapy materials in an extra public hospital

INTRODUÇÃO: Todos os anos, milhões de dólares são gastos para equipar e manter os centros de esterilização hospitalar no mundo. Materiais de terapia respiratória são essenciais para o suporte de vida e têm um grande impacto nas complicações clínicas. Fornecer materiais de terapia respiratória com higiene apropriada em um hospital é um desafio para os gestores devido ao impacto clínico e de custos. OBJETIVO: Comparar os custos de diferentes métodos de abastecimento de materiais de fisioterapia respiratória em um hospital geral, de porte extra, terciário e público. MÉTODOS: Consistiu em um estudo observacional, baseado em revisão documental e análise crítica de indicadores de gestão hospitalar, e analisou materiais utilizados em fisioterapia respiratória, classificados como semicríticos, incluindo ressuscitador manual, nebulizador, kit para pressão positiva contínua nas vias aéreas, circuito ventilatório para ventilação mecânica não invasiva e invasiva. RESULTADOS: Comparado ao processo de aquisição de materiais descartáveis, o processo de abastecimento no Centro de Material e Esterilização (CME) institucional gera uma economia anual com valores calculados em US$ 289.679,26; em comparação com o CME terceirizado, o processo de suprimento no CME institucional economiza um montante de US$ 257.041,11 por ano. CONCLUSÃO: Este foi o primeiro estudo brasileiro a realizar uma análise de custos nesse contexto. O processo de abastecimento com a higienização de materiais de fisioterapia respiratória na CME-INST mostrou-se mais vantajoso com menores custos quando comparado ao processo de abastecimento com higienização na CME-EXT ou custo de aquisição de MD. A economia anual estimada considerando o consumo médio mensal neste estudo ultrapassou US$ 250.000,00. A análise de custos detalhada fornece informações cruciais e pode permitir uma melhor gestão financeira. [AU]

INTRODUCTION: Every year millions of dollars are expended to equip and maintain the hospital sterilization centers in the world. Respiratory therapy materials are essential to life support, and have a major impact on clinical complications. To provide respiratory therapy materials with appropriate hygiene in a hospital is a challenge for manager due to clinical and costs impact. OBJECTIVE: To compare costs of different methods of providing respiratory therapy materials in a general, extra, tertiary and public hospital. METHODS: It consisted of an observational study, based on document review and critical analysis of hospital management indicators, and analyzed materials used in respiratory therapy, classified as semi-critical products, including manual resuscitator, nebulizer, kit for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), ventilatory circuit for non-invasive and invasive mechanical ventilation. RESULTS: Compared to the supply process of disposable materials acquisition, the supply process in the Institutional Central Sterilization Supply Department generates an annual savings with values calculated at US$ 289,679.26; while compared to the Outsourced Central Sterilization Supply Department the supply process in the Institutional Central Sterilization Supply Department saves an amount of US$ 257,041.11 annually. CONCLUSION: This was the first Brazilian study to conduct a cost analysis in this context. The supply process with the cleaning of respiratory physiotherapy materials in the Institutional Central Sterilization Supply Department was more advantageous with lower costs when compared to the Outsourced Central Sterilization Supply Department or cost of acquisition of disposable materials. The annual savings estimated considering the average monthly consumption in this study exceeded US $ 250,000.00. Detailed cost analysis provides crucial information and can enable better financial management. [AU]