Infect Chemother.  2020 Sep;52(3):352-359. 10.3947/ic.2020.52.3.352.

A Universal Screening Strategy for SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Intensive Care Units: Korean Experience in a Single Hospital

• Chang E
• Choi JS
• Park TY
• Kim SBK
• Ko S
• Kwon YS
• Kim EJ
• Song H
• Noh HK
• Park SW

• KMID: 2507529
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3947/ic.2020.52.3.352

Abstract

Background
Severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is not differentiated clinically from other respiratory infections, and intensive care units (ICUs) are vulnerable to in-hospital transmission due to interventions inducing respiratory aerosols. This study evaluated the effectiveness of universal SARS-CoV-2 screening in ICUs in terms of screened-out cases and reduction in anxiety of healthcare personnel (HCP). Materials and
Methods
This prospective single-armed observational study was conducted in 2 ICUs of a single hospital. The number of patients diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection by the screening program and healthcare workers in ICUs that visited the SARS-CoV-2 screening clinic or infection clinic were investigated.
Results
During the 7-week study period, no positive screening case was reported among a total of 142 patients. Among 86 HCP in the ICUs, only 2 HCP sought medical consultation for SARS-CoV-2 infection during the initial 2 weeks.
Conclusion
A universal screening program for SARS-CoV-2 infection in ICUs with the coordination of other countermeasures in the hospital was reasonably effective in preventing in-hospital transmission in a pandemic situation and making clinical practices and HCP stable.

Keyword

SARS-CoV-2; COVID; Screening; Intensive care unit; Nosocomial infection