SARS-CoV-2 /COVID-19 Admission Screening in a University Hospital Setting

SARS-CoV-2 /COVID-19 Admission Screening in a University Hospital Setting (Covid-Screen Quality Control Study)

The proportion of asymptomatic carriers of SARS-CoV-2 remains elusive, so the potential benefit of systematic screening during the SARS-CoV-2-pandemic is controversial. We investigate the proportion of asymptomatic inpatients who were identified by systematic screening for SARS-CoV-2 upon hospital admission.

Adult patients admitted to the University Hospital Basel from 01.04.-14.06.2020 were routinely tested for SARS-CoV-2 within 72 hours of admission by nasopharyngeal swabs.

Each patient screened during the study period was retrospectively classified symptomatic or asymptomatic for COVID-19 based on medical chart review.

Inclusion Criteria:

• The patient population is defined as all adult patients hospitalized in the University Hospital Basel from April 1st, 2020 to June 14th, 2020.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Outpatients
• Patients with SARS-CoV-2 screening in the outpatient test center
• Patients with a SARS-CoV-2 test more than 72 hours before hospital admission
• Test not performed (for any reason)