Regular testing of asymptomatic healthcare workers identifies cost-efficient SARS-CoV-2 preventive measures.

Sánchez-Taltavull, Daniel; Castelo-Székely, Violeta; Murugan, Shaira; Hamley, Jonathan I. D.; Rollenske, Tim; Ganal-Vonarburg, Stephanie C.; Büchi, Isabel; Keogh, Adrian; Li, Hai; Salm, Lilian; Spari, Daniel; Yilmaz, Bahtiyar; Zimmermann, Jakob; Gerfin, Michael; Roldan, Edgar; Beldi, Guido (2021). Regular testing of asymptomatic healthcare workers identifies cost-efficient SARS-CoV-2 preventive measures. PLoS ONE, 16(11), e0258700. Public Library of Science 10.1371/journal.pone.0258700

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Protecting healthcare professionals is crucial in maintaining a functioning healthcare system. The risk of infection and optimal preventive strategies for healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic remain poorly understood. Here we report the results of a cohort study that included pre- and asymptomatic healthcare workers. A weekly testing regime has been performed in this cohort since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic to identify infected healthcare workers. Based on these observations we have developed a mathematical model of SARS-CoV-2 transmission that integrates the sources of infection from inside and outside the hospital. The data were used to study how regular testing and a desynchronisation protocol are effective in preventing transmission of COVID-19 infection at work, and compared both strategies in terms of workforce availability and cost-effectiveness. We showed that case incidence among healthcare workers is higher than would be explained solely by community infection. Furthermore, while testing and desynchronisation protocols are both effective in preventing nosocomial transmission, regular testing maintains work productivity with implementation costs.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > Pre-clinic Human Medicine > BioMedical Research (DBMR) > DBMR Forschung Mu35 > Forschungsgruppe Viszeralchirurgie
04 Faculty of Medicine > Pre-clinic Human Medicine > BioMedical Research (DBMR) > DBMR Forschung Mu35 > Forschungsgruppe Viszeralchirurgie

04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Gastro-intestinal, Liver and Lung Disorders (DMLL) > Clinic of Visceral Surgery and Medicine > Visceral Surgery
03 Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences > Department of Economics
04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Gastro-intestinal, Liver and Lung Disorders (DMLL) > Clinic of Visceral Surgery and Medicine > Gastroenterology
04 Faculty of Medicine > Pre-clinic Human Medicine > BioMedical Research (DBMR) > DBMR Forschung Mu35 > Forschungsgruppe Gastroenterologie / Mukosale Immunologie
04 Faculty of Medicine > Pre-clinic Human Medicine > BioMedical Research (DBMR) > DBMR Forschung Mu35 > Forschungsgruppe Gastroenterologie / Mukosale Immunologie

04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Gastro-intestinal, Liver and Lung Disorders (DMLL) > Clinic of Visceral Surgery and Medicine
04 Faculty of Medicine > Pre-clinic Human Medicine > BioMedical Research (DBMR)

UniBE Contributor:

Sánchez Taltavull, Daniel, Castelo-Székely, Violeta, Murugan, Shaira, Hamley, Jonathan Ian Douglas, Rollenske, Tim Henning, Ganal-Vonarburg, Stephanie Christine, Büchi, Isabel, Keogh, Adrian, Li, Hai, Salm, Lilian, Spari, Daniel, Yilmaz, Bahtiyar (A), Zimmermann, Jakob, Gerfin, Michael, Beldi, Guido Jakob Friedrich

Subjects:

300 Social sciences, sociology & anthropology > 330 Economics
600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health

ISSN:

1932-6203

Publisher:

Public Library of Science

Language:

English

Submitter:

Rahel Fuhrer

Date Deposited:

01 Dec 2021 11:51

Last Modified:

19 Sep 2024 23:19

Publisher DOI:

10.1371/journal.pone.0258700

PubMed ID:

34739484

BORIS DOI:

10.48350/161328

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/161328

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