@article{3104409,
    title = "ESGE and ESGENA Position Statement on gastrointestinal endoscopy and the COVID-19 pandemic",
    author = "Gralnek, I.M. and Hassan, C. and Beilenhoff, U. and Antonelli, G. and Ebigbo, A. and Pellisè, M. and Arvanitakis, M. and Bhandari, P. and Bisschops, R. and Van Hooft, J.E. and Kaminski, M.F. and Triantafyllou, K. and Webster, G. and Pohl, H. and Dunkley, I. and Fehrke, B. and Gazic, M. and Gjergek, T. and Maasen, S. and Waagenes, W. and De Pater, M. and Ponchon, T. and Siersema, P.D. and Messmann, H. and Dinis-Ribeiro, M.",
    journal = "Gastrointestinal Endoscopy",
    year = "2020",
    volume = "52",
    number = "6",
    pages = "483-490",
    publisher = "Georg Thieme Verlag",
    issn = "0016-5107",
    doi = "10.1055/a-1155-6229",
    keywords = "Article;  coronavirus disease 2019;  emergency health service;  gastrointestinal endoscopy;  health care personnel;  human;  online analysis;  pandemic;  patient assessment;  patient care;  patient risk;  priority journal;  risk management;  systematic review;  virucidal activity;  Coronavirus infection;  disease transmission;  gastrointestinal endoscopy;  pandemic;  practice guideline;  prevention and control;  procedures;  virus pneumonia, Coronavirus Infections;  Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal;  Humans;  Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional;  Infectious Disease Transmission, Professional-to-Patient;  Pandemics;  Pneumonia, Viral;  Risk Management",
    abstract = "We are currently living in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic that imposes a significant stress on health care providers and facilities. Europe is severely affected with an exponential increase in incident infections and deaths. The clinical manifestations of COVID-19 can be subtle, encompassing a broad spectrum from asymptomatic mild disease to severe respiratory illness. Health care professionals in endoscopy units are at increased risk of infection from COVID-19. Infection prevention and control has been shown to be dramatically effective in assuring the safety of both health care professionals and patients. The European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (www.esge.com) and the European Society of Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Nurses and Associates (www.esgena.org) are joining forces to provide guidance during this pandemic to help assure the highest level of endoscopy care and protection against COVID-19 for both patients and endoscopy unit personnel. This guidance is based upon the best available evidence regarding assessment of risk during the current status of the pandemic and a consensus on which procedures to perform and the priorities on resumption. We appreciate the gaps in knowledge and evidence, especially on the proper strategy(ies) for the resumption of normal endoscopy practice during the upcoming phases and end of the pandemic and therefore a list of potential research questions is presented. New evidence may result in an updated statement. © 2020 Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart New York."
}