Article Text
Statistics from Altmetric.com
We read with interest the study by Hayee et al 1 which reported no COVID-19 infection in healthcare workers (HCWs) or patient after 6208 outpatient GI endoscopic procedures across 18 centres in UK with the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and infection control policies. Only 3 (0.11%) of 2611 asymptomatic patients had tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 prior to endoscopy. The study is timely and the results are gratifying given the huge perceived risk of cross-infection among HCWs and patients during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The study favours resumption of outpatient diagnostics during COVID-19 recovery phase without mandatory testing. The risk may, however, vary depending on factors such as infection rate in the population and type of the procedure. We are sharing our experience of transmission of COVID-19 following endoscopy across five academic centres in India, which should strengthen their argument.
All patients undergoing endoscopic procedures from 1 April 2020 to 31 May 2020 were included in an observational study. A detailed questionnaire was sent to the participating centres for the following information: (1) endoscopy details: type and indications of GI endoscopy and (2) infection control measures: use of PPE, mandatory policy of preprocedure testing for SARS-CoV-2 and disinfection practices. Outcome measure was new SARS-CoV-2 infection in HCWs or patient. The patients were followed up telephonically …