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. 2021 Jan 27;108(1):e24-e26.
doi: 10.1093/bjs/znaa062.

Universal preoperative SARS-CoV-2 testing can facilitate safe surgical treatment during local COVID-19 surges

A N Kothari  1 , A T Trans  2 , A S Caudle  3 , M W Clemens  4 , M H G Katz  1 , S E Woodman  5 , G J Chang  1
Affiliations

Universal preoperative SARS-CoV-2 testing can facilitate safe surgical treatment during local COVID-19 surges

A N Kothari et al. Br J Surg. .

Abstract

This research letter details the experience of a large cancer center's experience with a universal asymptomatic preoperative SARS-CoV-2 testing program that facilitated safe surgical treatment during a local surge of coronavirus cases. A total of 5,234 asymptomatic tests were performed with a test positivity rate that correlated with the increase in community prevalence of COVID-19 infections. No patients developed a postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection with no documented patient-to-patient or patient-to-provider spread.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Positive test rates and numbers of new SARS-CoV-19 cases in Texas, and positive preoperative test rates and number of positive preoperative tests at MD Anderson Cancer Center between 6 April and 24 July 2020 a) Daily positive test rate for SARS-CoV-2 infection in Texas and positive test rate for asymptomatic patients tested before surgery at MD Anderson Cancer Center. b) Daily number of new cases in Texas and daily number of positive tests during universal asymptomatic preoperative testing at MD Anderson Cancer Center.
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