Asymptomatic Pre-Operative COVID-19 Screening for Essential and Elective Surgeries: Early Results of Universal Screening at a Midwestern Academic Medical Center

CONCLUSION: Among asymptomatic patients tested at a Midwestern academic medical center, 0.79% were infected with SARS-CoV-2 virus. These findings will help guide screening protocols at medical centers while providing essential and elective procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic. While the asymptomatic infection rate was low, this data substantiates the threat of asymptomatic infections and potential for community viral spread. These results may not be generalizable to large urban population centers or areas with high concentrations of COVID-19, each region must use available data to evaluate the risk-benefit ratio of universal testing vs universal contact precautions.Level of Evidence: IV.PMID:34552401 | PMC:PMC8259201

Source: Iowa orthopaedic journal - September 23, 2021 Category: Orthopaedics Authors: Nathan R Hendrickson Kyle Kesler David E DeMik Natalie A Glass Matthew K Watson Bradley A Ford Jorge L Salinas Andrew J Pugely Source Type: research