Post-exposure testing at healthcare facilities with SARS-CoV-2 transmission: A rapid review

Background: Post-exposure severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) testing following health facility outbreaks may control the spread of infection. Aim: This study aimed to assess the impact of testing for SARS-CoV-2 infection on health outcomes during healthcare facility outbre...

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Main Authors: Emmanuel E. Effa, Okokon Ita, Joshua Mwankon, Funmi Siyanbade, Francis Iwomi, Eleanor Ochodo, Gemma Villanueva, Martin M. Meremikwu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AOSIS 2025-02-01
Series:Journal of Public Health in Africa
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Online Access:https://publichealthinafrica.org/index.php/jphia/article/view/623
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author Emmanuel E. Effa
Okokon Ita
Joshua Mwankon
Funmi Siyanbade
Francis Iwomi
Eleanor Ochodo
Gemma Villanueva
Martin M. Meremikwu
author_facet Emmanuel E. Effa
Okokon Ita
Joshua Mwankon
Funmi Siyanbade
Francis Iwomi
Eleanor Ochodo
Gemma Villanueva
Martin M. Meremikwu
author_sort Emmanuel E. Effa
collection DOAJ
description Background: Post-exposure severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) testing following health facility outbreaks may control the spread of infection. Aim: This study aimed to assess the impact of testing for SARS-CoV-2 infection on health outcomes during healthcare facility outbreaks. Setting: This review included studies conducted at skilled nursing facilities, a cancer centre, and a geriatric psychiatric facility. Methods: We followed the methods for conducting rapid systematic reviews, searched databases from December 2019 to August 2022, assessed the risk of bias using the modified Newcastle Ottawa scale, and graded the certainty of evidence using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) approach. We pooled the prevalence, mortality, and hospitalisation results as appropriate. Results: Of the 3055 articles from database search, no study was eligible for inclusion as outlined in the protocol. However, eight non-comparative reports (case series) in skilled nursing facilities were included. The pooled prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among residents of care homes and patients were 38% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 25% – 51%; 5 studies, 2044 participants; I2 = 94%, very low certainty evidence) and was 12% (95% CI = 6% – 19%; 5 studies, 2312 participants; I2 = 94%, very low certainty evidence) for exposed healthcare workers. The pooled mortality estimate and hospitalisation rate were 17% and 24%, respectively, (very low certainty evidence). Conclusion: There is no identified evidence for or against testing of people in healthcare facilities where there is ongoing transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Contribution: The evaluation of the effectiveness of testing strategies during SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks need baseline and follow-up data from well-designed before and after studies appropriate for the setting.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2038-9922
2038-9930
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series Journal of Public Health in Africa
spelling doaj-art-05f7b5ac1a9e42ff8421b8f29ad045692025-08-20T03:48:52ZengAOSISJournal of Public Health in Africa2038-99222038-99302025-02-01162e1e1310.4102/jphia.v16i2.623807Post-exposure testing at healthcare facilities with SARS-CoV-2 transmission: A rapid reviewEmmanuel E. Effa0Okokon Ita1Joshua Mwankon2Funmi Siyanbade3Francis Iwomi4Eleanor Ochodo5Gemma Villanueva6Martin M. Meremikwu7Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, University of Calabar, CalabarDepartment of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Laboratory Medicine, University of Calabar, CalabarDepartment of Family Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, University of Calabar, CalabarSchool of Nursing, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, CalabarCochrane Nigeria, Calabar Institute of Tropical Disease Research and Prevention, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, CalabarCentre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), KisumuCochrane Response, Cochrane, LondonDepartment of Paediatrics, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, CalabarBackground: Post-exposure severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) testing following health facility outbreaks may control the spread of infection. Aim: This study aimed to assess the impact of testing for SARS-CoV-2 infection on health outcomes during healthcare facility outbreaks. Setting: This review included studies conducted at skilled nursing facilities, a cancer centre, and a geriatric psychiatric facility. Methods: We followed the methods for conducting rapid systematic reviews, searched databases from December 2019 to August 2022, assessed the risk of bias using the modified Newcastle Ottawa scale, and graded the certainty of evidence using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) approach. We pooled the prevalence, mortality, and hospitalisation results as appropriate. Results: Of the 3055 articles from database search, no study was eligible for inclusion as outlined in the protocol. However, eight non-comparative reports (case series) in skilled nursing facilities were included. The pooled prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among residents of care homes and patients were 38% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 25% – 51%; 5 studies, 2044 participants; I2 = 94%, very low certainty evidence) and was 12% (95% CI = 6% – 19%; 5 studies, 2312 participants; I2 = 94%, very low certainty evidence) for exposed healthcare workers. The pooled mortality estimate and hospitalisation rate were 17% and 24%, respectively, (very low certainty evidence). Conclusion: There is no identified evidence for or against testing of people in healthcare facilities where there is ongoing transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Contribution: The evaluation of the effectiveness of testing strategies during SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks need baseline and follow-up data from well-designed before and after studies appropriate for the setting.https://publichealthinafrica.org/index.php/jphia/article/view/623sars-cov-2post-exposure testinghealthcare facilitiestransmissionsystematic review
spellingShingle Emmanuel E. Effa
Okokon Ita
Joshua Mwankon
Funmi Siyanbade
Francis Iwomi
Eleanor Ochodo
Gemma Villanueva
Martin M. Meremikwu
Post-exposure testing at healthcare facilities with SARS-CoV-2 transmission: A rapid review
Journal of Public Health in Africa
sars-cov-2
post-exposure testing
healthcare facilities
transmission
systematic review
title Post-exposure testing at healthcare facilities with SARS-CoV-2 transmission: A rapid review
title_full Post-exposure testing at healthcare facilities with SARS-CoV-2 transmission: A rapid review
title_fullStr Post-exposure testing at healthcare facilities with SARS-CoV-2 transmission: A rapid review
title_full_unstemmed Post-exposure testing at healthcare facilities with SARS-CoV-2 transmission: A rapid review
title_short Post-exposure testing at healthcare facilities with SARS-CoV-2 transmission: A rapid review
title_sort post exposure testing at healthcare facilities with sars cov 2 transmission a rapid review
topic sars-cov-2
post-exposure testing
healthcare facilities
transmission
systematic review
url https://publichealthinafrica.org/index.php/jphia/article/view/623
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