The value of anal swab RT-PCR for COVID-19 diagnosis in adult Indonesian patients.

OBJECTIVE: This study will test the performance of the anal swab PCR test when compared with the nasopharyngeal swab PCR test as a diagnostic tool for COVID-19. DESIGN: An observational descriptive study which included hospitalised suspected, or probable cases of hopitalised COVID-19 patients, conducted in Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo National Hospital, Ciputra Hospital, Mitra Keluarga Depok Hospital and Mitra Keluarga Kelapa Gading Hospital, Indonesia. Epidemiological, clinical, laboratory and radiology data were obtained. Nasopharyngeal and anal swabs specimens were collected for SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection. RESULTS: We analysed 136 subjects as part of this study. The clinical spectrum of COVID-19 manifesation in this study was typical of hospitalised patients, with 25% classified as mild cases, 14.7% in severe condition and 12.5% of subjects classified as having acute respiratory distress syndrome. When compared with nasopharyngeal swab as the standard specimen for reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) detection of SARS-CoV-2 antigen, the sensitivity and specificity of the anal swab was 36.7% and 93.8%, respectively. The positive and negative predictive value were 97.8% and 16.5 %, respectively. The performance of the anal swab remained similar when only the subgroup of patients with gastrointestinal symptoms (n=92, 67.6%) was analysed (sensitivity 40% and specificity 91.7%). Out of all the subjects included in analysis, 67.6% had gastrointestinal symptoms. Similarly, 73.3% of patients in the anal swab-positive group had gastrointestinal symptoms. The two most common gastrointestinal symptoms in the subjects' population were nausea and anorexia. CONCLUSION: Anal swab specimen has low sensitivity (36.7%) but high specificity (93.8%) for detecting SARS-CoV-2 antigen by RT-PCR. Only one additional positive result was found by anal swab among the nasopharyngeal swab-negative group. Anal swab may not be needed as an additional test at the beginning of a patient's diagnostic investigation and nasopharyngeal swab RT-PCR remains as the standard diagnostic test for COVID-19.

Clinical Gastroenterology and Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Practices during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic in Indonesia: An Online Nationwide Survey.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has necessitated modifications to allow the safe practice of clinical gastroenterology and gastrointestinal endoscopy. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of clinical gastroenterology and gastrointestinal endoscopy practices during the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia. METHODS: This cross-sectional study enrolled physician members of the Indonesian Society for Digestive Endoscopy. We used an online self-administered questionnaire disseminated via social media. The 32-item survey determined the baseline characteristics of the participants, characteristics of clinical gastroenterology and gastrointestinal endoscopy practices, involvement of the physicians in the management of COVID-19, and overall impact of the pandemic on practice. All collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: The 200 participants in this study had a median age of 50 (34-76) years. Modifications in clinical gastroenterology practice were frequently reported in the outpatient (95.5%) and inpatient (100%) settings. All participants reported changes in the gastrointestinal endoscopy practice patterns. Of the participants, 86.0% were working in high-risk zones, and several of them reported inadequate protective personal equipment (34.0%). The median overall impact score of the pandemic on practice was 9 (2-10). CONCLUSION: Physicians practicing clinical gastroenterology and gastrointestinal endoscopy in Indonesia work in high-risk settings. Modifications in clinical gastroenterology and gastrointestinal endoscopy practices are prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic.