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Endoscopy news
Endoscopes used in positive and critically ill patients are SARS-CoV-2 negative at virological assessment
  1. Ivo Boškoski,
  2. Anna Di Gemma,
  3. Maria Valeria Matteo,
  4. Fabio Grilli,
  5. Paola Cattani,
  6. Guido Costamagna
  1. Digestive Endoscopy Unit, Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, Roma, Lazio, Italy
  1. Correspondence to Dr Ivo Boškoski, Digestive Endoscopy Unit, Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli, Roma 00168, Italy; ivo.boskoski{at}policlinicogemelli.it

Abstract

The risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in endoscopy is not only between patients and endoscopy staff but is also through inadequately reprocessed endoscopes. There are no studies that could confirm the efficacy of current ways of endoscope reprocessing on the elimination of SARS-CoV-2. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the efficacy of high disinfection of endoscopes with peracetic acid on eliminating SARS-CoV-2, but surprisingly we found that the virus cannot be detected on any part of endoscopes used in critically ill patients due to SARS-CoV-2 and this was the same for all types of endoscopies and procedures. If confirmed in larger studies, these findings will probably open a new scenario in the overall understanding of the real impact of the virus.

  • diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy

This article is made freely available for use in accordance with BMJ’s website terms and conditions for the duration of the covid-19 pandemic or until otherwise determined by BMJ. You may use, download and print the article for any lawful, non-commercial purpose (including text and data mining) provided that all copyright notices and trade marks are retained.

https://bmj.com/coronavirus/usage

https://doi.org/10.1136/gutjnl-2020-323577

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    Footnotes

    • Twitter @ivoboskoski

    • Contributors IB, PC and GC: Study conceptualisation, data curation and analysis, methodology and writing, review and editing. ADG: Study conceptualisation, data curation and analysis, writing and review of the original draft and editing. MVM and FG: Study conceptualisation and data curation and analysis.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Competing interests GC: Consultant for and food and beverage compensation from Cook Medical, Boston Scientific and Olympus. IB: Consultant for Apollo Endosurgery, Cook Medical and Boston Scientific; board member for Endo Tools; research grant recipient from Apollo Endosurgery and food and beverage compensation from Apollo Endosurgery, Cook Medical, Boston Scientific and Endo Tools. All other authors have nothing to declare.

    • Patient and public involvement Patients and/or the public were not involved in the design, or conduct, or reporting, or dissemination plans of this research.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.