Article ; Online: Screening of healthcare workers for SARS-CoV-2 highlights the role of asymptomatic carriage in COVID-19 transmission
2020 Volume 9
Abstract: Significant differences exist in the availability of healthcare worker (HCW) SARS-CoV-2 testing between countries, and existing programmes focus on screening symptomatic rather than asymptomatic staff. Over a 3 week period (April 2020), 1032 asymptomatic ...
| Abstract | Significant differences exist in the availability of healthcare worker (HCW) SARS-CoV-2 testing between countries, and existing programmes focus on screening symptomatic rather than asymptomatic staff. Over a 3 week period (April 2020), 1032 asymptomatic HCWs were screened for SARS-CoV-2 in a large UK teaching hospital. Symptomatic staff and symptomatic household contacts were additionally tested. Real-time RT-PCR was used to detect viral RNA from a throat+nose self-swab. 3% of HCWs in the asymptomatic screening group tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. 17/30 (57%) were truly asymptomatic/pauci-symptomatic. 12/30 (40%) had experienced symptoms compatible with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)>7 days prior to testing, most self-isolating, returning well. Clusters of HCW infection were discovered on two independent wards. Viral genome sequencing showed that the majority of HCWs had the dominant lineage B∙1. Our data demonstrates the utility of comprehensive screening of HCWs with minimal or no symptoms. This approach will be critical for protecting patients and hospital staff. |
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| Keywords | General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology ; General Immunology and Microbiology ; General Neuroscience ; General Medicine ; covid19 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd |
| Publishing country | uk |
| Document type | Article ; Online |
| ZDB-ID | 2687154-3 |
| ISSN | 2050-084X |
| ISSN | 2050-084X |
| DOI | 10.7554/elife.58728 |
| Database | BASE - Bielefeld Academic Search Engine (life sciences selection) |
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