Abstract
Objectives:To correlate compliance to personal protective equipment (PPE) protocols and risk of exposure to SARS-COV-2 infection in endoscopy staff.Methods:We included 85 endoscopic procedures performed at Lahore General Hospital from May to July 2020. Standard operating procedures (SOPs) were implemented for patient selection, risk stratification and personal protective equipment (PPE) use for endoscopy staff. Patient and endoscopy staff were followed for Covid-19 infection. PPE scores for staff and Covid-19 positivity on follow-up were correlated using student’s t test.Results:Following 85 procedures included, 2 (2.3%) patients became Covid-19 positive. PPE score was <9 in 5 (5.8%) procedures for endoscopist and Covid-19 developed in 2 (2.3%) of them, PPE score was <9 during 19 (22.3%) procedures in 1st assistant and 9 (10.5%) developed infection and for 2nd assistant PPE score was <9 in 19(22.3%) endoscopies and 5 (5.9%) tested positive for covid-19. Infectivity of endoscopy staff was 6.2%. Association between PPE score and risk of Covid-19 was not significant. (p value 0.51 for endoscopist, 0.10 for 1st assistant and 0.09 for 2nd assistant).Conclusion:Compliance of SOPs for infection control reduces risk of acquiring Covid-19 infection during endoscopy. Proper use of PPE is effective for safety of endoscopy staff.
Highlights
Severe acute respiratory tract syndrome following exposure to corona virus 2 (SARS COV2) is responsible for viral pneumonia labeled as COVID-19 infection
These viruses in air droplets or aerosols can remain suspended in air for hours and may enter in healthy person with breathing, if in close proximity to infected individual.[5]
We planned an observational study at Endoscopy suit of Lahore General Hospital from May 2020 till July 2020, peak time of pandemic in Pakistan when only emergency endoscopic services were available at few tertiary care centers
Summary
Severe acute respiratory tract syndrome following exposure to corona virus 2 (SARS COV2) is responsible for viral pneumonia labeled as COVID-19 infection. It was first discovered in last month of 20191, due to highly infectious potential and presence of asymptomatic patients, it quickly transformed in to a pandemic.[2] People in more than 212 countries have reported exposure to this infection and confirmed reported cases are more than 65 million with more than 1.4 million deaths.[3]. These viruses in air droplets or aerosols can remain suspended in air for hours and may enter in healthy person with breathing, if in close proximity to infected individual.[5]
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