Top in GI: COVID-19 and colorectal cancer screening, duodenoscopes

Colorectal cancer screening rates have significantly decreased in recent years among at-risk populations, and COVID-19 has exacerbated this decline, according to a recent analysis. It was the top story in gastroenterology last week.

Another top story was about results of a randomized clinical trial that revealed both double high-level disinfection as well as liquid chemical sterilization of duodenoscopes yielded low rates of positive cultures.

Read these and more top stories in gastroenterology below:

Q&A: COVID-19 pandemic linked to drop in colorectal cancer screenings

Healio spoke with Vincent Nelson, MD, vice president of medical affairs and interim chief medical officer for the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, about the impact of delayed colorectal cancer screenings and how physicians can help patients prioritize preventive care during the pandemic. Read more.

Double disinfection, liquid sterilization both produce low culture rate for duodenoscopes

Double high-level disinfection and liquid chemical sterilization of duodenoscopes both produced low rates of positives cultures, according to the results of a randomized trial. Read more.

7 more reports on COVID-19 related to gastroenterology

Researchers have been hard at work exploring the rapidly changing field of COVID-19 and how it relates to gastroenterology. Here we present some of our most recent reports on their work, as well as some insight from practicing GIs on how the pandemic has impacted daily life and practice. Read more.

Q&A: ‘Stop the line’ practice needed to end systemic racism in academia

Structural racism has been observed in many parts of society, including local communities, health care settings and academia. Healio spoke with Darrell M. Gray II, MD, MPH, associate professor at The Ohio State University Medical Center, about how academia can help end structural racism with an anti-racism action plan. Read more.

Vancomycin with SER-287 more effective vs placebo for remission in UC

Investigators found vancomycin preconditioning followed by SER-287 (Seres Therapeutics) was significantly more effective compared with placebo for induction of remission in patients with active mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis. Read more.