Digestive system involvement of novel coronavirus infection: Prevention and control infection from a gastroenterology perspective

• Published in: Journal of Digestive Diseases 2020-04, Vol.21 (4), p.199-204
• Main Authors: Li, Lian Yong, Wu, Wei, Chen, Sheng, Gu, Jian Wen, Li, Xin Lou, Song, Hai Jing, Du, Feng, Wang, Gang, Zhong, Chang Qing, Wang, Xiao Ying, Chen, Yan, Shah, Rushikesh, Yang, He Ming, Cai, Qiang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Betacoronavirus - isolation & purification; Coronaviridae; Coronavirus Infections - complications; Coronavirus Infections - transmission; Coronavirus Infections - virology; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Cross Infection - etiology; Cross Infection - prevention & control; Cross Infection - virology; Digestive system; Digestive System Diseases - diagnosis; Digestive System Diseases - etiology; Digestive System Diseases - microbiology; Digestive System Diseases - virology; Disease prevention; Disease transmission; Endoscopy; Endoscopy, Digestive System - standards; Gastroenterology; Gastroenterology - standards; Hospital Units - standards; Humans; Infection Control - standards; Infections; Invited Review; Oral administration; Pandemics; Personal Protective Equipment - standards; Pneumonia, Viral - complications; Pneumonia, Viral - transmission; Pneumonia, Viral - virology; prevention and control; SARS-CoV-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
• ISSN: 1751-2972; 1751-2980
• DOI: 10.1111/1751-2980.12862

An epidemic of an acute respiratory syndrome caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) in Wuhan, China, now known as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), beginning in December 2019, has attracted an intense amount of attention worldwide. As the natural history and variety of clinical presentations of this disease unfolds, extrapulmonary symptoms of COVID‐19 have emerged, especially in the digestive system. While the respiratory mode of transmission is well known and is probably the principal mode of transmission of this disease, a possibility of the fecal‐oral route of transmission has also emerged in various case series and clinical scenarios. In this review article, we summarize four different aspects in published studies to date: (a) gastrointestinal manifestations of COVID‐19; (b) microbiological and virological investigations; (c) the role of fecal‐oral transmission; and (d) prevention and control of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in the digestive endoscopy room. A timely understanding of the relationship between the disease and the digestive system and implementing effective preventive measures are of great importance for a favorable outcome of the disease and can help climnicians to mitigate further transmission by taking appropriate measures.