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.
Diagnostic Test: Testing for SARS-CoV-2
All Patients admitted to the hospital were routinely tested for SARS-CoV-2 within 72 hours of admission by nasopharyngeal swabs.
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)
University Hospital Basel, Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology
Basel, Switzerland
Sarah Tschudin-Sutter, Prof. Dr. MD, Principal Investigator
University Hospital Basel, Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology