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

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Lian Yong Li, PLA Strategic Support Force Characteristic Medical Center; Wei Wu, Emory University; Sheng Chen, PLA Strategic Support Force Characteristic Medical Center; Jian Wen Gu, PLA Strategic Support Force Characteristic Medical Center; Xin Lou Li, PLA Strategic Support Force Characteristic Medical Center; Hai Jing Song, PLA Strategic Support Force Characteristic Medical Center; Feng Du, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Sense Organ Stress and Health; Gang Wang, State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Sense Organ Stress and Health; Chang Qing Zhong, PLA Strategic Support Force Characteristic Medical Center; Xiao Ying Wang, PLA Strategic Support Force Characteristic Medical Center; Yan Chen, PLA Strategic Support Force Characteristic Medical Center; Rushikesh Shah, Emory University; He Ming Yang, PLA Strategic Support Force Characteristic Medical Center; Qiang Cai, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2020-04-01
• Publisher: WILEY
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2020 Chinese Medical Association Shanghai Branch, Chinese Society of Gastroenterology, Renji Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1751-2980.12862
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: JOURNAL OF DIGESTIVE DISEASES
• Volume: 21
• Issue: 4
• Start Page: 199
• End Page: 204
• Grant/Funding Information: None
• Keywords: ACUTE RESPIRATORY SYNDROME; Science & Technology; prevention and control; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; COVID-19; PNEUMONIA; Gastroenterology & Hepatology; digestive system
• Research Categories: Biology, Virology; Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery

Abstract

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.