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. 2021 Aug;10(8):2933-2939.
doi: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_2339_20. Epub 2021 Aug 27.

Experience from a COVID-19 screening centre of a tertiary care institution: A retrospective hospital-based study

Somen Kumar Pradhan  1 , Dinesh Prasad Sahu  1 , Durgesh Prasad Sahoo  2 , Arvind Kumar Singh  1 , Binod Kumar Patro  1 , Sachidananda Mohanty  3
Affiliations

Experience from a COVID-19 screening centre of a tertiary care institution: A retrospective hospital-based study

Somen Kumar Pradhan et al. J Family Med Prim Care. 2021 Aug.

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic continues to be a significant public health concern across the whole world, including India. In the absence of any specific treatment or vaccine against COVID-19, the role of efficient testing and reporting has been uncontested so far as the number of cases is rising daily. In order to strengthen the screening activities and to prevent nosocomial infection, facility-based screening centres have been designed and operated at various levels of healthcare, including tertiary care institutions.

Methods: The present study has been planned with an objective to understand the patient profile and evaluate the functioning of COVID-19 screening OPD (CS-OPD) at a tertiary care hospital. In this hospital-based retrospective study, data from individuals visiting the COVID-19 screening OPD during the period from 17th March 2020 to 31st July 2020 were collected. We documented and analysed relevant demographic, epidemiological and clinical characteristics of the patients.

Results: A total of 10,735 patients visited the COVID-19 screening OPD during the defined study period of which 3652 individuals were tested. The majority of the patients, i.e., 65.67% (7050) were male and in the 15-59 years age group (84.68%). The most common symptoms among patients visiting CS-OPD was cough (9.86%). Of the total, 17.17% (1843) of patients reported to the CS-OPD with a contact history of COVID-19-positive patient. On the other hand, 13.49% (1448) of patients were with either domestic or international travel history. The overall testing rate and positivity rate for CS-OPD during this period were found to be 34.02% and 7.94%, respectively.

Conclusion: The clinical, demographic and epidemiological characteristics of patients visiting CS-OPD varied across the study period depending upon the containment and testing strategy. The CS-OPD played a crucial role in preventing nosocomial infection and maintaining non-COVID care at the tertiary care hospital.

Keywords: COVID-19; screening OPD; tertiary care hospital.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
COVID-19 screening OPD (CS-OPD) map: A-Registration counter, B-Screening clinic OPD, C-Sample collection room, D-Control room/ Nursing station E-SRF generation/VTM distribution counter, F-Donning room, G-Duffing room, H-COVID-19 emergency OT I- COVID-19 Labor room, J-Report collection counter, K-Toilet, L-Patient waiting area, M-Staff room
Figure 2
Figure 2
Algorithm for patient-flow and service delivery at CS-OPD
Figure 3
Figure 3
Timeline of revision of COVID-19 testing strategy by ICMR: *Date of the month in which the category was added. #Date of the month in which the category was removed
Figure 4
Figure 4
Time distribution of seven-day moving average of the number of individuals with a positive travel history, positive contact history and symptoms
Figure 5
Figure 5
Variation in the seven-day moving average of the number of samples tested and those tested positive for COVID-19 as compared to daily patient visit
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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