Effective surveillance of acute COVID-19 using a cost- and labor-efficient approach: a paradigm for the longitudinal monitoring of respiratory infections in larger cohorts.
Paul R Wratil, Niklas A Schmacke, Burak Karakoc, Christopher Dächert, Elif Apak, Franziska Krenn, Sara Bjedov, Irina Badell, Tamara Pflantz, Alexandra Lübke, Vanessa Ferrari, Aldric Namias, Alexander Graf, Natascha Grzimek-Koschewa, Helga Mairhofer, Ina Koeva-Slancheva, Stefan Hörmansdorfer, Stefan Krebs, Helmut Blum, Ernst-W Raschner, Matthias Klein, Stephan Boehm, Veit Hornung, Martin R Fischer, Oliver T Keppler
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Purpose: To reduce the risk of viral transmission in a large cohort of individuals by longitudinal surveillance of COVID-19.
Methods: A cost- and labor-effective method was developed for longitudinal screening of acute COVID-19 in larger cohorts with high-level data protection. Herein, individuals would submit self-sampled tongue swabs that were analyzed for viral RNA by pooled reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results were communicated online and by telephone. Utilizing this workflow, medical and dental students at a quaternary care hospital were regularly tested between December 16, 2020, and February 17, 2023. Virus variant analysis was performed by melting curve PCR and next-generation sequencing.
Results: Our method led to a cost reduction for PCR testing that was greater than 10-fold without compromising the time to result. 3,693 individuals participated, contributing 52,993 samples. 430 cases of acute COVID-19 were detected in total. The testing behavior among participants differed from that of the general population. Periods with high numbers of newly detected cases in the study cohort coincided with high COVID-19 incidences in the public. Furthermore, one COVID-19 outbreak was observed in the cohort that was not matched by an increased incidence in the general population. Longitudinal virus variant analysis showed an overlap between variants detected in the study cohort and the public.
Conclusion: Our method enables cost-effective, longitudinal screening for COVID-19 and possibly other respiratory diseases in larger cohorts. At times of high disease burden or if public surveillance is less vigorous, this approach might be useful for the surveillance of vulnerable individuals and healthcare professionals.
期刊介绍：
Infection is a journal dedicated to serving as a global forum for the presentation and discussion of clinically relevant information on infectious diseases. Its primary goal is to engage readers and contributors from various regions around the world in the exchange of knowledge about the etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of infectious diseases, both in outpatient and inpatient settings.
The journal covers a wide range of topics, including:
Etiology: The study of the causes of infectious diseases.
Pathogenesis: The process by which an infectious agent causes disease.
Diagnosis: The methods and techniques used to identify infectious diseases.
Treatment: The medical interventions and strategies employed to treat infectious diseases.
Public Health: Issues of local, regional, or international significance related to infectious diseases, including prevention, control, and management strategies.
Hospital Epidemiology: The study of the spread of infectious diseases within healthcare settings and the measures to prevent nosocomial infections.
In addition to these, Infection also includes a specialized "Images" section, which focuses on high-quality visual content, such as images, photographs, and microscopic slides, accompanied by brief abstracts. This section is designed to highlight the clinical and diagnostic value of visual aids in the field of infectious diseases, as many conditions present with characteristic clinical signs that can be diagnosed through inspection, and imaging and microscopy are crucial for accurate diagnosis. The journal's comprehensive approach ensures that it remains a valuable resource for healthcare professionals and researchers in the field of infectious diseases.
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