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Review
. 2020 Aug:46 Suppl 1:55-64.
doi: 10.1016/j.semerg.2020.06.001. Epub 2020 Jun 5.

[Contact tracing in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. The fundamental role of Primary Health Care and Public Health]

[Article in Spanish]
J M Bellmunt  1 , J A Caylà  2 , J P Millet  3
Affiliations
Review

[Contact tracing in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. The fundamental role of Primary Health Care and Public Health]

[Article in Spanish]
J M Bellmunt et al. Semergen. 2020 Aug.

Abstract
in English, Spanish

The aim of this study was to promote the rapid identification of the contacts of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 and therefore the control of the pandemic. Different methodologies and recommendations on contact tracing for Primary Health Care (PHC) and Public Health Services (PHS), like articles in Pubmed about COVID-19 and contact tracing, official contact definitions, the classic contact tracing model in tuberculosis (TB), information about apps for contact tracing and the role of the diagnostic tests, were reviewed. To establish efficient prevention and control measures, it is always necessary to implement contact tracing based on clinical suspicion, early diagnosis and isolation of cases and contacts and their follow-up. The classic contact tracing model in TB can be applied to this new infection, but accelerating the process given its acute nature and its potential severity. Good coordination between PHC and PHS and having sufficient resources is essential.

Con el objetivo de favorecer la rápida identificación de los contactos de pacientes infectados por SARS-CoV-2 y por tanto el control de la pandemia, se revisaron diferentes metodologías y recomendaciones sobre estudio de contactos (EECC) aplicables a la Atención Primaria (AP) y a la Salud Pública (SP): artículos en Pubmed sobre COVID-19 y EECC, definiciones de contacto en documentos oficiales, el sistema clásico de EECC en tuberculosis (TB), informaciones sobre apps para EECC y el papel de las pruebas diagnósticas.

Para establecer medidas de prevención y control eficientes, se precisa actuar siempre bajo sospecha clínica, diagnóstico y aislamiento precoz de los casos y de los contactos y su seguimiento. El modelo clásico de EECC en TB es aplicable a esta nueva infección pero acelerando el proceso dado su carácter agudo y su potencial gravedad. Es imprescindible una buena coordinación entre AP y SP y disponer de recursos suficientes.

Keywords: Atención Primaria; COVID-19; Contact study; Epidemiological surveillance; Estudio de contactos; Primary care; Public health; SARS-CoV-2; Salud Pública; Vigilancia epidemiológica.

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Figures

Figura 1
Figura 1
Propuesta de organización del seguimiento de contactos en la infección por SARS-CoV-2.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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