COVID-19 Pandemic Best Practices for Gastroenterologists

The American Gastroenterological Association, the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease, the American College of Gastroenterology, and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy have released a joint statement that includes management recommendations for gastroenterologists and gastroenterology care providers in the context of the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19).

Specifically, the recommendations are for institutions and practices that provide endoscopy and outpatient gastrointestinal (GI) services.

“The situation involving the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve,” according to the joint GI society message. “There is recent evidence suggesting the potential for coronavirus transmission through droplets and perhaps fecal shedding posing potential risks during endoscopy and colonoscopy to other patients, endoscopy personnel and ourselves.”

The societies have developed 13 recommendations to consider, including:

• Strongly consider rescheduling elective nonurgent endoscopic procedures. It may be useful to classify procedures into categories of nonurgent/postpone and nonurgent/perform (eg, cancer evaluations, prosthetic removals, evaluation of significant symptoms).
• Prescreen all patients for high-risk exposure or symptoms.
• Make sure all members of the endoscopy team wear the appropriate personal protective equipment.
• Consider offering elective office visits remotely, via telemedicine if possible.
• Instruct patients who are taking immunosuppressive drugs for inflammatory bowel disease and autoimmune hepatitis to continue taking their medications.

“The purpose of this communication is to jointly provide you with up-to-date COVID-19 information in order to maintain the highest level of health and safety for our patients, staff, community, and ourselves,” according to the 4 groups’ presidents, who authored the message.

—Colleen Murphy

Reference:

Joint GI society message: COVID-19 clinical insights for our community of gastroenterologists and gastroenterology care providers. American Gastroenterological Association. March 15, 2020. Accessed March 17, 2020. https://www.gastro.org/press-release/joint-gi-society-message-covid-19-clinical-insights-for-our-community-of-gastroenterologists-and-gastroenterology-care-providers.