COVID-19 testing in outbreak free care homes: What are the public health benefits?

摘要: SUMMARY Background COVID-19 care home outbreaks represent a significant proportion of morbidity and mortality in the UK. National testing initially focused on symptomatic residents, before extending to asymptomatic cohorts. Aim The aim was describe epidemiology transmission outbreak free homes. Methods A two-point prevalence survey COVID-19, 34 Liverpool homes, performed April May 2020. Changes were analysed. Associations between characteristics, reported infection, prevention control interventions, status described Findings No resident developed symptoms during study. There no difference between: number homes containing at least one test positive first (17.6%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 6.8–34.5) second round (14.7%, CI 5.0–31.1) (p>0.99); residents (2.1%, 1.2–3.4) (1.0%, 0.5–2.1) (P=0.11). Care providing nursing (risk ratio (RR) 7.99, 1.1–57.3) employing agency staff (RR 8.4, 1.2–60.8) more likely contain residents. Closing shared space not associated with 2.63, 0.4–18.5). Conclusions Asymptomatic showed evidence disease or development outbreaks; suggesting that current infection measures are effective preventing transmission. Repeat two three weeks had limited public health benefits over regular daily monitoring for symptoms. These results should inform policies calling