Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Gastroenterology Divisions in Italy: A national survey.
Dig Liver Dis
; 52(8): 808-815, 2020 Aug.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-32425733
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
In Italy, the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has stressed the entire healthcare system and required a huge re-organization of many Divisions, including those of Gastroenterology.AIMS:
to assess the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Gastroenterology Divisions across Italy.METHODS:
All members of the Italian Society of Gastroenterology (SIGE) were invited to answer a web-based survey.RESULTS:
Data of 121 hospitals from all 20 Italian regions were analyzed. Overall, 10.7% Gastroenterology Divisions have been converted to Covid Units. Outpatients consultations, endoscopic and ultrasound procedures were limited to urgencies and oncology indications in 85.1%, 96.2% and 72.2% of Units, respectively, and 46.7% of them suspended the screening for colorectal cancer. Moreover, 72.2% of the staff received a training for use of personal protective equipment, although 45.5% did not have sufficient devices for adequate replacement. Overall, 132 healthcare workers in 41 Gastroenterology Divisions were found to be infected.CONCLUSION:
This is the first study to evaluate, at a country level, the impact of COVID-19 outbreak on Gastroenterology Divisions. Substantial changes of practice and reduction of procedures have been recorded in the entire country. The long-term impact of such modifications is difficult to estimate but potentially very risky for many digestive diseases.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Pneumonia Viral
/
Controle de Infecções
/
Infecções por Coronavirus
/
Pandemias
/
Gastroenterologia
Limite:
Humans
País/Região como assunto:
Europa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Dig Liver Dis
Assunto da revista:
GASTROENTEROLOGIA
Ano de publicação:
2020
Tipo de documento:
Article