COVID-19 epidemiological surveillance through pool testing focused on asymptomatic healthcare workers in the city of Bahía Blanca

Authors

  • María del Carmen Esandi Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB), Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur/Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (UNS/CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Joel Marinovich Hospital Municipal Dr. Leónidas Lucero, Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, UNS, Bahía Blanca, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Ignacio Bergé Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB), Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur/Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (UNS/CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Nicolás García IFISUR, Departamento de Física, UNS/CONICET, Bahía Blanca, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Olga Lorena German Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB), Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur/Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (UNS/CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Victoria Belén Ayala-Peña Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB), Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur/Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (UNS/CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Fermín Sierra Hospital Municipal Dr. Leónidas Lucero, Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, UNS, Bahía Blanca, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
  • María Gabriela Serralunga Departamento de Matemática, UNS, Bahía Blanca, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • María Eugenia Esandi Departamento de Economía, UNS, Bahía Blanca, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Marta Del Valle Hospital Municipal Dr. Leónidas Lucero, Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, UNS, Bahía Blanca, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina
  • Cecilia Bouzat Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca (INIBIBB), Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur/Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (UNS/CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina

Keywords:

COVID-19, RT-PCR, Screening, Asymptomatic, Healthcare Workers

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: One of the most important challenges at the beginning of the pandemic was to implement strategies to prevent SARS-CoV-2 virus transmission and reduce the impact of COVID-19. The purpose of this study was to contribute to the reduction of community transmission through an interinstitutional initiative, aimed at validating a SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection method, and at implementing and assessing the surveillance of asymptomatic infected healthcare workers (HCWs) at public health institutions in the city of Bahía Blanca. METHODS: To validate a coronavirus RNA detection method, RNA was extracted from nasopharyngeal swabs and identification of the viral E gene was done by RT-PCR. Validation of sample pooling was performed to increase the testing capacity. A prospective cohort study was conducted from 15 September 2020 to 15 September 2021. RESULTS: The sensitivity and specificity of the test in individual samples was 95% (CI 95%: 85%-100%). The sensitivity of the pooling strategy was 73% (CI 95%: 46%-99%) and the specificity was 100%. A total of the 855 HCWs were included in the surveillance and 1764 swabs were performed, with an annual cumulative incidence of 2.3% (CI 95%: 1,2%-3,4%), and 20 positive asymptomatic cases were detected. DISCUSSION: The screening of asymptomatic HCWs during the pandemic contributed to reduce the risk of outbreaks in hospital settings. Moreover, an interdisciplinary team framework applicable to other health problems was generated. 

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Published

12-09-2022

How to Cite

Esandi , . M. del C. ., Marinovich , . J., Bergé , I. ., García , N., German , O. L. ., Ayala-Peña , V. B., … Bouzat , . C. (2022). COVID-19 epidemiological surveillance through pool testing focused on asymptomatic healthcare workers in the city of Bahía Blanca . Revista Argentina De Salud Pública, 14, e55. Retrieved from https://rasp.msal.gov.ar/index.php/rasp/article/view/792

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Section

Original Articles