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Sort and Sieve: Pre-Triage Screening of Patients with Suspected COVID-19 in the Emergency Department.
- Source :
-
International journal of environmental research and public health [Int J Environ Res Public Health] 2021 Sep 02; Vol. 18 (17). Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Sep 02. - Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- Introduction: To reduce the risk of nosocomial transmission, suspected COVID-19 patients entering the Emergency Department (ED) were assigned to a high-risk (ED) or low-risk (acute medical unit, AMU) area based on symptoms, travel and contact history. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of our pre-triage screening method and to analyse the characteristics of initially undetected COVID-19 patients.<br />Methods: This was a retrospective, observational, single centre study. Patients ≥ 18 years visiting the AMU-ED between 17 March and 17 April 2020 were included. Primary outcome was the (correct) number of COVID-19 patients assigned to the AMU or ED.<br />Results: In total, 1287 patients visited the AMU-ED: 525 (40.8%) AMU, 762 (59.2%) ED. Within the ED group, 304 (64.3%) of 473 tested patients were COVID-19 positive, compared to 13 (46.4%) of 28 tested patients in the AMU group. Our pre-triage screening accuracy was 63.7%. Of the 13 COVID-19 patients who were initially assigned to the AMU, all patients were ≥65 years of age and the majority presented with gastro-intestinal or non-specific symptoms.<br />Conclusion: Older COVID-19 patients presenting with non-specific symptoms were more likely to remain undetected. ED screening protocols should therefore also include non-specific symptoms, particularly in older patients.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1660-4601
- Volume :
- 18
- Issue :
- 17
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- International journal of environmental research and public health
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 34501861
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18179271