Universität zu Köln

Menting, T., Krause, K., Benz-Tettey, F., Boehringer, R., Laufer, D., Gruber, B., Crump, M., Schieferdecker, R., Reuhl, S., Kaeferstein, A., Engelhart, S., Streeck, H., Marx, B., Aldabbagh, S., Eis-Huebinger, A., Rockstroh, J. K. and Schwarze-Zander, C. (2021). Low-threshold SARS-CoV-2 testing facility for hospital staff: Prevention of COVID-19 outbreaks? Int. J. Hyg. Environ. Health., 231. MUNICH: ELSEVIER GMBH. ISSN 1618-131X

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Abstract

Background: The ongoing global SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has caused over 4.7 million infections greatly challenging healthcare workers (HCW) and medical institutions worldwide. The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has shown to significantly impact mental and physical health of HCW. Thus, implementation of testing facilities supporting HCW are urgently needed. Methods: A low-threshold SARS-CoV-2 testing facility was introduced at the University Hospital Bonn, Germany, in March 2020. Irrespective of clinical symptoms employees were offered a voluntary and free SARS-CoV-2 test. Furthermore, employees returning from SARS-CoV-2 risk regions and employees after risk contact with SARSCoV-2 infected patients or employees were tested for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Pharyngeal swabs were taken and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction for detection of SARS-CoV-2 was performed, test results being available within 24 h. Profession, symptoms and reason for SARS-CoV-2 testing of employees were recorded. Results: Between 9th March and April 30, 2020, a total of 1510 employees were tested for SARS-CoV-2 infection. 1185 employees took advantage of the low-threshold testing facility. One percent (n = 11) were tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection, 18% being asymptomatic, 36% showing mild and 36% moderate/severe symptoms (missing 10%). Furthermore, of 56 employees returning from SARS-CoV-2 risk regions, 18% (10/56) were tested SARS-CoV-2 positive. After risk contact tracking by the hospital hygiene 6 patient-to-employee transmissions were identified in 163 employees with contact to 55 SARS-CoV-2 positive patients. Conclusion: In the absence of easily accessible public SARS-CoV-2 testing facilities low-threshold SARS-CoV-2 testing facilities in hospitals with rapid testing resources help to identify SARS-CoV-2 infected employees with absent or mild symptoms, thus stopping the spread of infection in vulnerable hospital environments. High levels of professional infection prevention training and implementation of specialized wards as well as a perfectly working hospital hygiene network identifying and tracking risk contacts are of great importance in a pandemic setting.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Menting, T. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Krause, K. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Benz-Tettey, F. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Boehringer, R. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Laufer, D. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Gruber, B. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Crump, M. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Schieferdecker, R. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Reuhl, S. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Kaeferstein, A. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Engelhart, S. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Streeck, H. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Marx, B. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Aldabbagh, S. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Eis-Huebinger, A. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Rockstroh, J. K. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Schwarze-Zander, C. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-580852
DOI:	10.1016/j.ijheh.2020.113653
Journal or Publication Title:	Int. J. Hyg. Environ. Health.
Volume:	231
Date:	2021
Publisher:	ELSEVIER GMBH
Place of Publication:	MUNICH
ISSN:	1618-131X
Language:	English
Faculty:	Unspecified
Divisions:	Unspecified
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language Public, Environmental & Occupational Health; Infectious Diseases Multiple languages
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/58085