Usefulness of universal SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing for inpatients and their caregivers during the omicron era

Jiwon Jung; Hyejin Yang; Soyeon Park; Hyun-Jung Lim; Sun-Kyung Kim; Young-Ju Lim; Eun Ok Kim; Sung-Han Kim

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e11008

Usefulness of universal SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing for inpatients and their caregivers during the omicron era

Heliyon. 2022 Oct;8(10):e11008. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e11008. Epub 2022 Oct 10.

Authors

Jiwon Jung^{1

2}, Hyejin Yang², Soyeon Park², Hyun-Jung Lim², Sun-Kyung Kim², Young-Ju Lim², Eun Ok Kim², Sung-Han Kim^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Infectious Diseases, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
² Office for Infection Control, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea.

Abstract

Background: Since January 2022, the Omicron variant has become the dominant strain in South Korea, and COVID-19 cases among hospitalized patients and their guardians or caregivers have increased. We evaluated the usefulness of universal periodic screening for SARS-CoV-2 in patients and resident caregivers in a South Korean tertiary care hospital.

Methods: We evaluated the reason for testing in COVID-19 confirmed patients and resident caregivers during their hospitalization from March 3 to 31, 2022. The rate of positive PCR universal testing in hospital (or residency) (HD) on days 3 and 7 in asymptomatic patients and caregivers were evaluated. The test for SARS-CoV-2 was done by RT-PCR.

Results: During the study period, 677 patients were diagnosed with COVID-19. The reasons for testing were the symptoms (226 (33%)), pre-admission test (183 (27%)), exposure to COVID-19 (124 (18%)), universal testing on HD 3 (94 (14%)), and that on HD 7 (34 (5%)). Caregivers (n = 340) were tested during their residency due to exposure to COVID-19 cases, 103 (30%); universal testing on HD 3, 90 (26%); symptom development, 46 (14%); pre-stay, 39 (11%); and universal testing on HD 7, 29 (9%). The positive test rates of inpatients and caregivers on HD 3 and HD 7 were as follows: 1.4% (93/6553) and 2.1% (55/2646) in inpatients, and 1.3% (79/5989) and 1.7% (35/2106) in caregivers, respectively.

Conclusions: Universal testing, regardless of symptom or epidemiologic link, is useful for detecting pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic COVID-19 cases among hospitalized patients and caregivers and preventing a nosocomial outbreak during the Omicron era.

Keywords: COVID-19; PCR; SARS-CoV-2; Universal screening.