• Hirotsugu Maruyama, Shuhei Hosomi, Hiroko Nebiki, Takashi Fukuda, Koichiro Nakagawa, Hirotoshi Okazaki, Hirokazu Yamagami, Junichi Hara, Tetsuya Tanigawa, Hirohisa Machida, Kazuki Aomatsu, Yoshihisa Watanabe, Hiroshi Sato, Hironori Uno, Osamu Takaishi, Tsutomu Nomura, Masahiro Ochi, Nobuhide Oshitani, Kenji Adachi, Akira Higashimori, Masaki Ominami, Yuji Nadatani, Shusei Fukunaga, Koji Otani, Fumio Tanaka, Noriko Kamata, Yasuaki Nagami, Koichi Taira, Toshio Watanabe, and Yasuhiro Fujiwara.
• Department of Gastroenterology, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine.
• Rom J Intern Med. 2021 Jun 1; 59 (2): 166-173.

AbstractIntroduction. An on-going coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a challenge all over the world. Since an endoscopy unit and its staff are at potentially high risk for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, we conducted a survey for the management of the gastrointestinal endoscopic practice, personal protective equipment (PPE), and risk assessment for COVID-19 during the pandemic at multiple facilities.Methods. The 11-item survey questionnaire was sent to representative respondent of Department of Gastroenterology, Osaka City University Hospital, and its 19 related facilities.Results. A total of 18 facilities submitted valid responses and a total of 373 health care professionals (HCPs) participated. All facilities (18/18: 100%) were screening patients at risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection before endoscopy. During the pandemic, we found that the total volume of endoscopic procedures decreased by 44%. Eleven facilities (11/18: 61%) followed recommendations of the Japan Gastroenterological Endoscopy Society (JGES); consequently, about 35%-50% of esophagogastroduodenoscopy and colonoscopy were canceled. Mask (surgical mask or N95 mask), face shield/goggle, gloves (one or two sets), and gown (with long or short sleeves) were being used by endoscopists, nurses, endoscopy technicians, and endoscope cleaning staff in all the facilities (18/18: 100%). SARS-CoV-2 infection risk assessment of HCPs was conducted daily in all the facilities (18/18: 100%), resulting in no subsequent SARS-CoV-2 infection in HCPs.Conclusion. COVID-19 has had a dramatic impact on the gastrointestinal endoscopic practice. The recommendations of the JGES were appropriate as preventive measures for the SARSCoV-2 infection in the endoscopy unit and its staff.© 2021 Hirotsugu Maruyama et al., published by Sciendo.

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