@article{3031538,
    title = "COVID-19 in the endoscopy unit: How likely is transmission of infection?
Results from an international, multicenter study",
    author = "Papanikolaou, Ioannis S. and Tziatzios, Georgios and Chatzidakis, and Alexandros and Facciorusso, Antonio and Crino, Stefano Francesco and and Gkolfakis, Paraskevas and Deriban, Gjorgi and Tadic, Mario and Hauser, and Goran and Vezakis, Antonios and Jovanovic, Ivan and Muscatiello, Nicola and and Meneghetti, Anna and Miltiadou, Konstantinos and Stardelova, Kalina and and Lackovic, Alojzije and Bourou, Maria-Zoi and Djuranovic, Srdjan and and Triantafyllou, Konstantinos",
    journal = "WORLD JOURNAL OF GASTROINTESTINAL ENDOSCOPY",
    year = "2021",
    volume = "13",
    number = "9",
    pages = "416-425",
    publisher = "BAISHIDENG PUBLISHING GROUP INC",
    doi = "10.4253/wjge.v13.i9.416",
    keywords = "COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Gastrointestinal endoscopy; Personal protection
measures; Transmission; Lockdown",
    abstract = "BACKGROUND</p>
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) significantly affected endoscopy
practice, as gastrointestinal endoscopy is considered a risky procedure
for transmission of infection to patients and personnel of endoscopy
units (PEU).</p>
AIM</p>
To assess the impact of COVID-19 on endoscopy during the first European
lockdown (March-May 2020).</p>
METHODS</p>
Patients undergoing endoscopy in nine endoscopy units across six
European countries during the period of the first European lockdown for
COVID-19 (March-May 2020) were included. Prior to the endoscopy
procedure, participants were stratified as low- or high- risk for
potential COVID-19 infection according to the European Society of
Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) and the European Society of
Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Nurses and Associates (ESGENA) joint
statement, and contacted 7-14 d later to assess COVID-19 infection
status. PEU were questioned regarding COVID-19 symptoms and/or infection
via questionnaire, while information regarding hospitalizations,
intensive care unit-admissions and COVID-19-related deaths were
collected. The number of weekly endoscopies at each center during the
lockdown period was also recorded.</p>
RESULTS</p>
A total of 1267 endoscopies were performed in 1222 individuals across
nine European endoscopy departments in six countries. Eighty-seven (7%)
were excluded because of initial positive testing. Of the 1135
pre-endoscopy low risk or polymerase chain reaction negative for
COVID-19, 254 (22.4%) were tested post endoscopy and 8 were eventually
found positive, resulting in an infection rate of 0.7% [(95%CI:
0.2-0.12]. The majority (6 of the 8 patients, 75%) had undergone
esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Of the 163 PEU, 5 [3%; (95%CI: 0.4-5.7)]
tested positive during the study period. A decrease of 68.7% (95%CI:
64.8-72.7) in the number of weekly endoscopies was recorded in all
centers after March 2020. All centers implemented appropriate personal
protective measures (PPM) from the initial phases of the lockdown.</p>
CONCLUSION</p>
COVID-19 transmission in endoscopy units is highly unlikely in a
lockdown setting, provided endoscopies are restricted to emergency cases
and PPM are implemented.</p>"
}