key: cord-0846761-mknkrocz
authors: Han, Jing; Wang, Ying; Zhu, Liguo; Cui, Yi; Li, Li; Zeng, Zhirong; Zhang, Shenghong
title: Preventing the spread of COVID-19 in digestive endoscopy during the resuming period: meticulous execution of screening procedures
date: 2020-04-05
journal: Gastrointest Endosc
DOI: 10.1016/j.gie.2020.03.3855
sha: 044dd121b0cb8689893b8292301d6ef04fa264f8
doc_id: 846761
cord_uid: mknkrocz

nan

To the editor:

The experience in management of the endoscopy unit during the COVID-19 pandemic shared by Thompson Faced with the situation of the reduced number of new domestic cases for the past month and the mounting number of imported cases in South China, our center has restored nonemergency service and executed a strict protocol ( Fig. 1 ) since March 2, 2020. Patients who seek endoscopy examination or treatment must go for triage and make appointments beforehand. For those with fever or respiratory symptoms, chest CT scans and routine blood tests are further required. Patients from overseas who are still in 14-day quarantine but have no infectious symptoms also go for triage to the emergency department. For those released from quarantine, an official releasing document issued by health authority is required, and registration must be made before making endoscopy appointments. After making appointments, throat swabs must be collected and used for COVID-19 nucleic acid polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. Emergency patients take a 3-hour rapid testing on the day of endoscopy, whereas nonemergency cases can choose either the 3-hour self-paying tests or the 24-hour free tests, 3 days before endoscopy. After getting the COVID-19 test result, patients scan the quick respond (QR) code provided by the Chinese government to report possible exposure history for the past 14 days. They are also asked to complete screening questionnaires, which include questions regarding body temperature, travel history, and nucleic acid PCR testing results within 3 days. Only after complete evaluation are patients admitted to the endoscopy center. In endoscopy examination, medical workers are required to wear hierarchal personal protective equipment including surgical masks, face shields or goggles, disposable hats and shoe covers, gowns, and gloves.

For the past 19 work days, the number of endoscopic cases in our center has increased gradually and reached 70 cases per day, which is 35% of our full capacity, with a total case number of 1361 since March 2, 2020. More importantly, no endoscopy-related COVID-19 nosocomial infections have been reported due to the strict execution of screening protocol in our center. Our experience demonstrates that strict screening procedures may prevent the spread of COVID-19 in digestive endoscopy during the resuming period. 

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