• Hiroaki Murata, Cristina Vanegas, and Keiko Ogami-Takamura.
• Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan.
• Curr Opin Anaesthesiol. 2021 Oct 1; 34 (5): 648653648-653.

Purpose Of ReviewInfection control is inherent in ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia practice, because ultrasound transducer and coupling gel can be vectors for pathogen transmission. We reviewed the current standards and recommendations of ultrasound transducer cleaning, disinfection, and safe handling of ultrasound equipment. Based on the available data, we propose a set of practical recommendations applicable to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and future epidemics.Recent FindingsRegional anesthesia is often preferred over general anesthesia for COVID-19 patients. Avoidance of general anesthesia reduces the need for aerosol generating procedures. Administration of ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia and surgery under regional anesthesia in COVID-19 patients requires careful infectious precautions to prevent the viral spread through the use equipment.SummaryUltrasound machine, transducer and coupling gel can serve as a vector for transmission of pathogens. In the era of COVID-19 pandemic, standardized strategies are recommended to minimize the risk of spread of COVID-19 to both patients and the healthcare providers.Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

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