Adherence to recommendations for endoscopy practice during COVID-19 pandemic in Latin America: how are we doing it?

BMJ Open Gastroenterol. 2021 Jan;8(1):e000558. doi: 10.1136/bmjgast-2020-000558.

Abstract

Background and aims: Digestive endoscopy is considered a high-risk procedure for COVID-19. Recommendations have been made for its practice during the pandemic. This study was conducted to determine adherence to recommendations for endoscopy practice during the COVID-19 pandemic in Latin America (LA).

Methods: A survey was conducted of endoscopists from LA consisting of 43 questions for the evaluation of four items: general and sociodemographic features, and preprocedure, intraprocedure and postprocedure aspects.

Results: A response was obtained from 338 endoscopists (response rate 34.5%) across 15 countries in LA. In preprocedure aspects (hand washing, use of face masks for patients, respiratory triage area, training for the placement/removal of personal protective equipment (PPE) and availability of specific area for the placement/removal of PPE), there was adherence in <75%. Regarding postprocedure aspects, 77% (261/338) had reused PPE, mainly the N95 respirator or higher, and this was with a standardised decontamination procedure only in 32% (108/338) of the time. Postprocedure room decontamination was carried out by 47% on >75% of occasions. In relationship to intraprocedure aspects (knowledge of risk and type of endoscopic procedures, use of PPE, airway management in patients and infrastructure), there was adherence in >75% for all the parameters and 78% of endoscopists only performed emergencies or time-sensitive procedures.

Conclusions: Adherence to the recommendations for endoscopy practice during the COVID-19 pandemic is adequate in the intraprocedure aspect. However, it is deficient in the preprocedure and postprocedure aspects.

Keywords: endoscopy; gastrointestinal endoscopy; general practice.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • COVID-19* / epidemiology
  • COVID-19* / prevention & control
  • Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal*
  • Female
  • Guideline Adherence*
  • Health Care Surveys
  • Humans
  • Infection Control / methods
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / prevention & control
  • Latin America / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pandemics
  • Personal Protective Equipment
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic*
  • Prospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • SARS-CoV-2