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National Weekly SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR Screening of All Workers in Long-Term Care Facilities Associated with Decrease in
Yasmeen Abu-Fraiha1,2,3, Shahar Geva Robinson4,5, Michal Maimon1
1Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer Sheva, Israel.
Gerontology
|January 11, 2023
Summary
Routine COVID-19 screening of healthcare workers in long-term care facilities significantly reduced resident hospitalizations and mortality. Weekly testing identified asymptomatic carriers, preventing outbreaks and saving lives.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
- Gerontology
Background:
- Long-term care facilities (LTCFs) are vulnerable to COVID-19 outbreaks.
- Asymptomatic healthcare workers (HCWs) are a primary source of disease transmission in LTCFs.
- Reducing COVID-19 outbreaks, morbidity, and mortality in LTCF residents is a critical public health goal.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of routine screening tests for HCWs in mitigating COVID-19 outbreaks.
- To assess the impact of HCW screening on LTCF resident morbidity and mortality.
- To determine the role of weekly SARS-CoV-2 testing in preventing facility-wide infections.
Main Methods:
- A nationwide, government-funded weekly screening program for SARS-CoV-2 using RT-PCR.
- Inclusion of all residents and employees in Israeli LTCFs during the second COVID-19 wave (July-November 2020).
- Monitoring of screening results, outbreak occurrences, hospitalizations, and mortality rates within LTCFs.
Main Results:
- Weekly screening of 62,159 HCWs across 1,107 LTCFs identified SARS-CoV-2 positive individuals.
- LTCF mortality decreased by 33.8% in the second wave compared to the first (p < 0.001).
- Significant reductions observed in hospitalization rates (13.59% vs. 11.41%, p < 0.001) and elder mortality (52.89% vs. 41.42%, p < 0.001).
- Early identification of positive HCWs prevented 214 potential outbreaks.
Conclusions:
- Routine weekly SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR testing of LTCF employees is effective in reducing outbreaks.
- This screening strategy is associated with decreased hospitalizations and mortality rates among LTCF residents.
- Proactive testing of HCWs is a vital component of infection control in long-term care settings.
