“Swab Team” in the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak containment among healthcare workers

Authors

  • Francesco Bussu Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
  • Davide Rizzo Otolaryngology Division, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, Sassari, Italy
  • Laura Saderi Clinical Epidemiology and Medical Statistics Unit, Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
  • Antonio Piras Otolaryngology Division, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, Sassari, Italy
  • Laura Maria De Luca Otolaryngology Division, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, Sassari, Italy
  • Giacomo De Riu Swab Team, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, Sassari, Italy
  • Luigi Angelo Vaira Maxillofacial Surgery Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, Sassari, Italy
  • Antonello Serra Swab Team, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, Sassari, Italy
  • Paola Altrudo Swab Team, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, Sassari, Italy
  • Domenico Delogu Swab Team, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, Sassari, Italy
  • Ignazio Dettori Swab Team, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, Sassari, Italy
  • Francesco Giuseppe Riu Otolaryngology Division, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, Sassari, Italy
  • Flavia Angioj Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, Sassari, Italy
  • Laura Firino Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, Sassari, Italy
  • Rosalba Govoni Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, Sassari, Italy
  • Gabriele Ibba Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, Sassari, Italy
  • Vincenzo Lai Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, Sassari, Italy
  • Erica Mura Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, Sassari, Italy
  • Bianca Paglietti Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, Sassari, Italy
  • Claudia Piu Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, Sassari, Italy
  • Anna Puggioni Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, Sassari, Italy
  • Elena Rimini Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, Sassari, Italy
  • Giulia Rocca Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, Sassari, Italy
  • Caterina Serra Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
  • Sergio Uzzau Swab Team, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, Sassari, Italy
  • Salvatore Rubino Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy, Swab Team, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, Sassari, Italy, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria, Sassari, Italy
  • Giovanni Sotgiu Clinical Epidemiology and Medical Statistics Unit, Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.15067

Keywords:

Nasopharyngeal swab, COVID-19, Healthcare workers, SARS-COV-2, Preventive measure

Abstract

Introduction: To analyze the virus spread among Sassari Hospital staff in the first Covid-19 wave and the impact of the Swab Team, a multidisciplinary task force entitled of nasopharyngeal swab collection and testing.

Methodology: Nasopharyngeal swabs from HCWs between March 6 and May 28 2020 are evaluated.

Results: 4919 SARS-CoV-2 tests were performed on 3521 operators. Nurses and doctors are the categories at highest risk. After the Swab Team institution, the average number of swabs raised from 47/day to 86/day (p = 0.007). Positive samples decreased from 18.6% to 1.7% (p < 0.0001).

Conclusions: The Swab Team is effective in increasing the cases tested and in reducing the reporting time. Procedure standardization reduces the risk for all the subjects involved (no transmission among swab team members, nor during the sample collection).

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Published

2021-11-30

How to Cite

1.
Bussu F, Rizzo D, Saderi L, Piras A, De Luca LM, De Riu G, Vaira LA, Serra A, Altrudo P, Delogu D, Dettori I, Riu FG, Angioj F, Firino L, Govoni R, Ibba G, Lai V, Mura E, Paglietti B, Piu C, Puggioni A, Rimini E, Rocca G, Serra C, Uzzau S, Rubino S, Sotgiu G (2021) “Swab Team” in the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak containment among healthcare workers. J Infect Dev Ctries 15:1640–1645. doi: 10.3855/jidc.15067

Issue

Vol. 15 No. 11: November 2021

Section

Coronavirus Pandemic

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