Science and Technology Production
Article
Authorship
Echavarria, Marcela
;
Reyes, Noelia Soledad
;
RODRIGUEZ, PAMELA ELIZABETH
;
Ricarte Carmen
;
Ypas Martin
;
Seoane Alejandro
;
Querci Marcia
;
Brizio Marianela
;
Stryjwesky Martin
;
Carballal, Guadalupe
Date
2022
Publishing House and Editing Place
ASOCIACION ARGENTINA MICROBIOLOGIA
Magazine
REVISTA ARGENTINA DE MICROBIOLOGÃA
ASOCIACION ARGENTINA MICROBIOLOGIA
Summary
Information provided by the agent in
SIGEVA
Health care workers (HCWs) are at high risk for SARS-CoV-2. In addition, pre-symptomatic or asymptomatic transmission accounts for around half of the cases. Saliva testing is an option to detect SARS-CoV-2 infection. To determine the performance of saliva samples for screening, HCWs were tested for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR. Those with a positive result in saliva were tested by nasopharyngeal swabbing for viral RNA detection and blood collection to search for the presence of specific antibodies. In ...
Health care workers (HCWs) are at high risk for SARS-CoV-2. In addition, pre-symptomatic or asymptomatic transmission accounts for around half of the cases. Saliva testing is an option to detect SARS-CoV-2 infection. To determine the performance of saliva samples for screening, HCWs were tested for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR. Those with a positive result in saliva were tested by nasopharyngeal swabbing for viral RNA detection and blood collection to search for the presence of specific antibodies. In September?October 2020, 100 HCWs were enrolled and followed up. Six subjects (6%) tested positive in saliva. Of them, 5/6 were positive in a subsequent nasopharyngeal swab and 4/6 developed signs and symptoms compatible with COVID-19. Among the latter, 3 seroconverted while asymptomatic HCWs remained seronegative. Saliva screening was helpful for identifying SARS-CoV-2 infection in HCWs. This screening permitted rapid personnel isolation avoiding further transmission of the virus in the hospital setting.
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Key Words
HEALTH CARE WORKERSSALIVASARS-COV-2Asymptomatic