ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: COVID-19 significantly affects endoscopic labs' workflow. Endoscopic examinations are considered high-risk for virus transmission. OBJECTIVES: To determine impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Hungarian endoscopic labs' workflow and on infection risk of endoscopic staff. METHOD: A nation-wide, cross-sectional online questionnaire was sent to heads of endoscopic labs in Hungary. The average number (with 95% confidence intervals) of upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopies performed in 2020 was compared to that in 2019. The number of SARS-CoV-2-infected endoscopic staff members and the source of infection was also investigated. RESULTS: Completion rate was 30% (33/111). Neither the number of upper (1.593 [743-1.514] vs. 1.129 [1.020-2.166], p = 0.053), nor that of lower gastrointestinal endoscopies (1.181 [823-1.538] vs. 871 [591-1.150], p = 0.072) decreased in 2020, but both upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopies' number decreased by 80% during peak phases. Separate examination room was available in 12% of institutes. Appropriate quality personal protective equipment (PPE) was available during the first and second peak phase in 70% and 82%, respectively. Infection risk stratification by questionnaire and PCR testing was routinely performed in 85% and 42%, respectively. Employee number decreased by 33% and 26% for physicians, and by 19% and 21% for assistants during peak phases, mainly due to age restrictions and COVID care assignments. 32% of assistants and 41% of physicians were infected (associated with inappropriate PPE use in 16% and 18%, respectively). CONCLUSION: Peak phases' restrictions increase endoscopic workload afterwards. Despite PPE availability, 15% of employees' COVID infection resulted from inappropriate PPE use in pre-vaccination era. Orv Hetil. 2022; 163(46): 1814-1822.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , SARS-CoV-2 , Humans , Pandemics , COVID-19/epidemiology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Personal Protective EquipmentABSTRACT
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the etiologic agent causing the disease Corona Virus Disease 19 (COVID-19), resulting in a worldwide pandemic. Non-emergent endoscopy services have been disrupted as incidence and hospitalizations were rising. It is anticipated that the peak incidence may be leveling off in many parts of the world, but there is a concern for resurgence of the virus activity. Thus, it is important for endoscopy units to have plans in place during peak times of the epidemic and when resuming endoscopic services as the pandemic wanes. The global endoscopy community is faced with the challenge of providing care during this time. The WEO-COVID guidance task force has provided this resource document based on the current evidence and consensus opinion. These World Endoscopy Organization (WEO) recommendations are meant to guide endoscopists worldwide, should be interpreted in light of specific clinical conditions and resource availability and may not apply in all situations. This guidance document does not supersede the need to check for all local regulations and legislations.