RESUMO
Introduction: COVID19 significantly affects endoscopic labs' workflow. Endoscopic examinations are considered high-risk for virus transmission. Objectives: To determine impact of COVID19 pandemic on Hungarian endoscopic labs' workflow and on infection risk of endoscopic staff. Method: A nation-wide, cross-sectional online questionnaire was sent to heads of endoscopic labs in Hungary. The average number (with 95% confidence intervals) of upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopies performed in 2020 was compared to that in 2019. The number of SARS-CoV-2-infected endoscopic staff members and the source of infection was also investigated. Results: Completion rate was 30% (33/111). Neither the number of upper (1.593 [7431.514] vs. 1.129 [1.0202.166], p = 0.053), nor that of lower gastrointestinal endoscopies (1.181 [8231.538] vs. 871 [5911.150], p = 0.072) decreased in 2020, but both upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopies' number decreased by 80% during peak phases. Separate examination room was available in 12% of institutes. Appropriate quality personal protective equipment (PPE) was available during the first and second peak phase in 70% and 82%, respectively. Infection risk stratification by questionnaire and PCR testing was routinely performed in 85% and 42%, respectively. Employee number decreased by 33% and 26% for physicians, and by 19% and 21% for assistants during peak phases, mainly due to age restrictions and COVID care assignments. 32% of assistants and 41% of physicians were infected (associated with inappropriate PPE use in 16% and 18%, respectively). Conclusion: Peak phases' restrictions increase endoscopic workload afterwards. Despite PPE availability, 15% of employees' COVID infection resulted from inappropriate PPE use in pre-vaccination era.
Assuntos
COVID-19 , SARS-CoV-2 , Humanos , Pandemias , COVID-19/epidemiologia , Estudos Transversais , Equipamento de Proteção IndividualRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Infliximab (IFX) has proven to be an effective addition to the therapeutic arsenal for refractory, fistulizing, and steroid dependent Crohn's disease (CD), with efficacy in the induction and maintenance of clinical remission of CD. Our objective in this study is to report the nationwide, multicenter experience with IFX induction therapy for CD in Hungary. METHODS: During a 6-year-period, beginning in 2000, a total of 363 CD patients were treated with IFX as induction therapy (5 mg/kg IFX infusions given at week 0, 2 and 6) at eleven centers in Hungary in this observational study. Data analysis included patient demographics, important disease parameters and the outcome of IFX induction therapy. RESULTS: Three hundred and sixty three patients (183 women and 180 men) were treated with IFX since 2000. Mean age was 33.5 +/- 11.2 years and the mean duration of disease was 6.7 +/- 6.1 years. The population included 114 patients (31.4%) with therapy-refractory CD, 195 patients (53.7%) with fistulas, 16 patients (4.4%) with both therapy-refractory CD and fistulas, and 26 patients (7.2%) with steroid dependent CD. Overall response rate was 86.2% (313/363). A higher response rate was observed in patients with shorter disease duration (p = 0.05, OR:0.54, 95%CI:0.29-0.99) and concomitant immunosuppressant therapy (p = 0.05, OR: 2.03, 95%CI:0.165-0.596). Concomitant steroid treatment did not enhance the efficacy of IFX induction therapy. Adverse events included 34 allergic reactions (9.4%), 17 delayed type hypersensitivity (4.7%), 16 infections (4.4%), and 3 malignancies (0.8%). CONCLUSION: IFX was safe and effective treatment in this cohort of Hungarian CD patients. Based on our experience co-administration of immunosuppressant therapy is suggested in patients receiving IFX induction therapy. However, concomitant steroid treatment did not enhanced the efficacy of IFX induction therapy.
