Early experience with universal preprocedural testing for SARS-CoV-2 in a relatively low-prevalence area

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Public Health
• Surgical Safety

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated novel strategies for patient management and healthcare worker protection.
• Conserving personal protective equipment (PPE) became critical during surges of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections.
• Understanding the prevalence of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 in surgical populations is vital for infection control.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the implementation of universal SARS-CoV-2 testing in patients undergoing surgery.
• To assess the rate of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections within this patient cohort.
• To determine the effectiveness of universal testing in conserving PPE and preventing healthcare team exposure.

Main Methods:

• Implemented universal SARS-CoV-2 testing for all patients scheduled for surgical procedures.
• Monitored infection rates and PPE utilization.
• Tracked instances of potential healthcare worker exposure to SARS-CoV-2.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection among surgical patients was less than 0.5%.
• The testing protocol, while resource-intensive, successfully prevented exposures for healthcare team members.
• Findings suggest the efficacy of early local public health interventions in controlling community transmission.

Conclusions:

• Universal SARS-CoV-2 testing in surgical settings is a feasible strategy for infection control.
• The low rate of asymptomatic cases indicates successful public health measures in the studied region.
• This approach enhances surgical safety by protecting healthcare workers from potential coronavirus disease 2019 exposure.