Utility of post-admission SARS-CoV-2 serial testing in hospitalized patients with cancer

• DOI: 10.1017/ice.2024.174
• Publication Date: 2024-12-03T08:58:57Z
• Authors: Shauna Usiak; Anoshe Aslam; Judy Yan; Jerin Madhavappallil; Marissa Bokhari; Tiffany Romero; Tania N. Bubb; Rich Kodama; Esther Babady; Mini Kamboj
• Keywords: Hospital admission

Abstract Background: SARS-CoV-2 asymptomatic surveillance testing (AST) is a common strategy to minimize the risk of nosocomial infection in patients and healthcare personnel. In contrast admission screening, post-admission AST was less widely adopted. Objective: This study describes diagnostic yield serial SARS-COV-2 hospitalized at large cancer center with mostly double-occupancy rooms. Design: Retrospective cohort design. Post-admission tests were examined over 18 month period. Positive results reviewed determine true hospital-onset infections using combination criteria screening all sample cycle threshold (Ct) values >30, non-concordant repeat testing, clinical symptoms. Results: 15,048 during an 18-month period tertiary care detected 1.6% (n = 245 patients). Among positive RNA tests, 13% clinically false positive. Most mild moderate severity. Conclusions: summary, high-risk setting low-yield several unfavorable effects should no longer be routinely applied.