Evaluation of Screening Tests in Bavarian Healthcare Facilities during the Second Wave of the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic

Abstract

Due to the lack of data on asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2-positive persons in healthcare institutions, they represent an inestimable risk. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to evaluate the first 1,000,000 reported screening tests of asymptomatic staff, patients, residents, and visitors in hospitals and long-term care (LTC) facilities in the State of Bavaria over a period of seven months. Data were used from the online database BayCoRei (Bavarian Corona Screening Tests), established in July 2020. Descriptive analyses were performed, describing the temporal pattern of persons that tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or antigen tests, stratified by facility. Until 15 March 2021, this database had collected 1,038,146 test results of asymptomatic subjects in healthcare facilities (382,240 by RT-PCR, and 655,906 by antigen tests). Of the RT-PCR tests, 2.2% (n = 8380) were positive: 3.0% in LTC facilities, 2.2% in hospitals, and 1.2% in rehabilitation institutions. Of the antigen tests, 0.4% (n = 2327) were positive: 0.5% in LTC facilities, and 0.3% in both hospitals and rehabilitation institutions, respectively. In LTC facilities and hospitals, infection surveillance using RT-PCR tests, or the less expensive but less sensitive, faster antigen tests, could facilitate the long-term management of the healthcare workforce, patients, and residents.

Utilisation of SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen assays in screening asymptomatic hospital visitors: mitigating the risk in low-incidence settings

“…In the same period, RAD testing amongst all admissions via our hospital's emergency department yielded a positive rate of 0.6% (40/6665), of which the majority (29/40) were true-positives (Wee et al, 2021d). However, antigen testing may remain relevant during high ongoing community transmission; increases in rates of antigen positivity amongst asymptomatic visitors were noted during subsequent pandemic waves (Tischer et al, 2021). Antigen testing remains logistically challenging for large healthcare facilities.…”

Bayerisches Meldeportal für Corona-Reihenuntersuchungen – Entwicklung und Einsatz einer digitalen Lösung in der Pandemie

“…In der aktuellen Form sind, wenn überhaupt, nur retrospektive Analysen mit der gebotenen Vorsicht bei der Dateninterpretation möglich, weil die Daten unvollständig und zeitversetzt erfasst werden (Selektions- und Informationsbias, vergleiche bspw. [ 7 ]).…”