Asymptomatic testing people for SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare facilities: A systematic review
Background: Asymptomatic testing involves the process whereby individuals who do not show symptoms of COVID-19 are tested for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection using any of the available laboratory test techniques. Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of testing a...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AOSIS
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Public Health in Africa |
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| Online Access: | https://publichealthinafrica.org/index.php/jphia/article/view/581 |
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| author | Olabisi A. Oduwole Glory Bassey Grace Esebanmen Samuel Shoyinka Johnsolomon Ohenhen Elise Cogo Nicholas Henschke Eleanor Ochodo Martin M. Meremikwu |
| author_facet | Olabisi A. Oduwole Glory Bassey Grace Esebanmen Samuel Shoyinka Johnsolomon Ohenhen Elise Cogo Nicholas Henschke Eleanor Ochodo Martin M. Meremikwu |
| author_sort | Olabisi A. Oduwole |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Asymptomatic testing involves the process whereby individuals who do not show symptoms of COVID-19 are tested for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection using any of the available laboratory test techniques.
Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of testing asymptomatic individuals visiting, living or working in healthcare facilities in reducing SARS-CoV-2 viral infections.
Setting: Healthcare databases.
Method: Electronic databases were searched and limited to English language and studies published 2020 to 02 September 2022. Following the methods for rapid systematic reviews, data were analysed using a fixed effect model, and results of the effect estimate were reported as odds ratios (OR) with their confidence intervals (CI) (95% CI).
Results: Databases’ searches yielded 3065 articles after deduplication and 3 studies by searching reference lists of included articles. After screening abstracts and full text articles, 3 cohort studies were included, each with serious risk of bias. Very low certainty evidence shows a decrease in occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 infections in the asymptomatic testing group among patients going for index surgery (OR: 0.05, 95 % CI: 0.00–0.82; 501 participants; 1 study) and among long term care facility staff (OR: 0.31, 95 % CI: 0.18–0.52; 3457 participants; 2 studies, I2 = 89%) than the ‘no asymptomatic testing’ group. However, its effect on their residents was contradictory.
Conclusion: There is limited quality evidence to support asymptomatic testing of individuals for SARS-CoV-2 in the prevention of virus transmission in health care settings.
Contribution: In the event of a future pandemic, this review offers current evidence on the potential effects of asymptomatic testing. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5ab80353d11b4506880512b8c2bf1bdd |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2038-9922 2038-9930 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Public Health in Africa |
| spelling | doaj-art-5ab80353d11b4506880512b8c2bf1bdd2025-02-11T13:24:50ZengAOSISJournal of Public Health in Africa2038-99222038-99302025-01-01162e1e910.4102/jphia.v16i2.581777Asymptomatic testing people for SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare facilities: A systematic reviewOlabisi A. Oduwole0Glory Bassey1Grace Esebanmen2Samuel Shoyinka3Johnsolomon Ohenhen4Elise Cogo5Nicholas Henschke6Eleanor Ochodo7Martin M. Meremikwu8Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science, Achievers University, Owo, Nigeria; and Cochrane Nigeria, Institute of Tropical Diseases Research and Prevention, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, CalabarDepartment of Paediatrics, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, CalabarNigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, AbujaDepartment of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science, Achievers University, OwoDepartment of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science, Achievers University, OwoCochrane Response, LondonCochrane Response, LondonCentre for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, KenyaCochrane Nigeria, Institute of Tropical Diseases Research and Prevention, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria; and Department of Paediatrics, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, CalabarBackground: Asymptomatic testing involves the process whereby individuals who do not show symptoms of COVID-19 are tested for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection using any of the available laboratory test techniques. Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of testing asymptomatic individuals visiting, living or working in healthcare facilities in reducing SARS-CoV-2 viral infections. Setting: Healthcare databases. Method: Electronic databases were searched and limited to English language and studies published 2020 to 02 September 2022. Following the methods for rapid systematic reviews, data were analysed using a fixed effect model, and results of the effect estimate were reported as odds ratios (OR) with their confidence intervals (CI) (95% CI). Results: Databases’ searches yielded 3065 articles after deduplication and 3 studies by searching reference lists of included articles. After screening abstracts and full text articles, 3 cohort studies were included, each with serious risk of bias. Very low certainty evidence shows a decrease in occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 infections in the asymptomatic testing group among patients going for index surgery (OR: 0.05, 95 % CI: 0.00–0.82; 501 participants; 1 study) and among long term care facility staff (OR: 0.31, 95 % CI: 0.18–0.52; 3457 participants; 2 studies, I2 = 89%) than the ‘no asymptomatic testing’ group. However, its effect on their residents was contradictory. Conclusion: There is limited quality evidence to support asymptomatic testing of individuals for SARS-CoV-2 in the prevention of virus transmission in health care settings. Contribution: In the event of a future pandemic, this review offers current evidence on the potential effects of asymptomatic testing.https://publichealthinafrica.org/index.php/jphia/article/view/581asymptomatic sars-cov-2covid-19 testasymptomatic testingasymptomatic diagnosisasymptomatic screeningasymptomatic covid-19 |
| spellingShingle | Olabisi A. Oduwole Glory Bassey Grace Esebanmen Samuel Shoyinka Johnsolomon Ohenhen Elise Cogo Nicholas Henschke Eleanor Ochodo Martin M. Meremikwu Asymptomatic testing people for SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare facilities: A systematic review Journal of Public Health in Africa asymptomatic sars-cov-2 covid-19 test asymptomatic testing asymptomatic diagnosis asymptomatic screening asymptomatic covid-19 |
| title | Asymptomatic testing people for SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare facilities: A systematic review |
| title_full | Asymptomatic testing people for SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare facilities: A systematic review |
| title_fullStr | Asymptomatic testing people for SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare facilities: A systematic review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Asymptomatic testing people for SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare facilities: A systematic review |
| title_short | Asymptomatic testing people for SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare facilities: A systematic review |
| title_sort | asymptomatic testing people for sars cov 2 in healthcare facilities a systematic review |
| topic | asymptomatic sars-cov-2 covid-19 test asymptomatic testing asymptomatic diagnosis asymptomatic screening asymptomatic covid-19 |
| url | https://publichealthinafrica.org/index.php/jphia/article/view/581 |
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