Overview of Current International Recommendations for Echocardiography Exams During the Covid-19 Pandemic and Its Local Implementation in Austria

Michael Lichtenauer; Erika Prinz; Christina Granitz; Bernhard Wernly; Kristen Kopp; Apollonia Daburger; Uta C Hoppe

doi:10.3389/fcvm.2021.623076

Overview of Current International Recommendations for Echocardiography Exams During the Covid-19 Pandemic and Its Local Implementation in Austria

Front Cardiovasc Med. 2021 Feb 10:8:623076. doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2021.623076. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Michael Lichtenauer¹, Erika Prinz¹, Christina Granitz¹, Bernhard Wernly¹, Kristen Kopp¹, Apollonia Daburger¹, Uta C Hoppe¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Internal Medicine II, Division of Cardiology, Paracelsus Medical University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.

Abstract

Since its first appearance in December 2019, the novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) has spread throughout the world at rapid pace causing the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). Originating in the Chinese province Hubei, more than 91.8 million people globally have now been infected with the coronavirus and more than 1.966.000 patients have died thus far from Covid-19 (as of January 13th 2021). The virus spreads primarily by droplet infection as well as via aerosols during close physical contact. Particularly in medical examinations with close physical contact between examiner and patient, like echocardiography, the risk of contracting the virus is increased. Therefore, the use of personal protective equipment is recommended for the protection of patients and medical personnel alike. In this article, the current recommendations of international professional associations on the use of personal protective equipment and their local implementation are presented.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS–CoV−2; cardiovascular imaging; echocardiography; protective gear.