Effectiveness of a SARS-CoV-2 infection prevention model in elective surgery patients – a prospective study: does universal screening make sense?. (September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Moreno-Pérez, O.; Merino, E.; Chico-Sánchez, P.; Gras-Valentí, P.; Sánchez-Payá, J.
• Is Part Of: Journal of hospital infection. Volume 115(2021)
• Page Start: 27
• Page End: 31
• Publication Date: 2021-09
• Subjects: COVID-19 -- Pre-operative screening -- Mortality -- Length of hospital stay -- Effectiveness -- Safety; Cross infection -- Periodicals; Cross infection -- Prevention -- Periodicals; Nosocomial infections -- Periodicals; Nosocomial infections -- Prevention -- Periodicals; Cross Infection -- Periodicals; Cross Infection -- prevention & control -- Periodicals; Infection Control -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 614.44
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2021.04.032
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0195-6701

Abstract

Summary: This observational study included patients who underwent pre-operative coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) screening in order to preserve patient safety. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 was performed in 2292 of 8740 surgical procedures, and the incidence of a positive PCR result was 0.0022%. No healthcare-associated infections were detected. There was no difference in overall mortality or length of hospital stay compared with the same period from the previous year. A selective screening strategy to identify patients for PCR testing, based on isolation measures, presurgical clinical-epidemiological assessment and selected major surgeries susceptible to a poor COVID-19-related outcome, is effective and safe for patients and healthcare workers.