Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33886627›Full record

ArticlePloS one2021

SARS-CoV-2 testing strategy: A comparison of restricted and extended strategies in a Swiss outpatient cohort from the community and hospital employees.

Stéphanie Baggio, Hervé Spechbach, Nathalie Vernaz, Idris Guessous, Laurent Gétaz, Laurent Kaiser, François Chappuis, Julien Salamun, Frédérique Jacquerioz

Abstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Stéphanie BaggioDivision of Prison Health, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0002-5347-5937
Hervé SpechbachDivision of Primary Care, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.
Nathalie VernazMedical Direction, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.
Idris GuessousDivision of Primary Care, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.
Laurent GétazDivision of Prison Health, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.
Laurent KaiserGeneva Centre for Emerging Viral Diseases, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.
François ChappuisDivision of Tropical and Humanitarian Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.
Julien SalamunDivision of Primary Care, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.
Frédérique JacqueriozDivision of Primary Care, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTesting is a key measure to control the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Here, we empirically compared two SARS-CoV-2 testing strategies.

methodsWe used data from a Swiss single-centre, outpatient cohort study (n = 6,331 test results). A "restricted" strategy was applied to individuals with respiratory symptoms and/or fever and selected risk factors, or an epidemiological link and an "extended" strategy included any clinical symptoms without restriction, irrespective of risk factors and exposure. Data on infection, symptoms, viral load were collected during the first wave (March 11-April 21, 2020) and patients were followed up for clinical complications and hospitalisations until August 31, 2020.

findingsInfection, clinical complications, and hospitalisation rates were lower for those in the extended strategy compared with the restricted strategy (17.2% vs. 25.0%, 12.3% vs. 20.8%, and 0.7% vs. 2.3%). In the whole cohort, participants included in the extended strategy had a lower number of symptoms (3.51 vs. 4.57; p < .001) and visits occurred earlier after symptom onset (0-3 days: 59.2% vs. 44.2%; p < .001). Among positive cases, the viral load was higher for the extended strategy (p < .001).

conclusionsThese findings highlighted the crucial importance to implement a widespread testing strategy to achieve a better understanding of the infection, to mount an effective control response, by capturing people when their viral load is highest. A widespread test strategy should be available without barriers to help break the chains of transmission.

Indexed as

AdultCOVID-19COVID-19 TestingFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedOutpatientsPersonnel, HospitalSARS-CoV-2Switzerland

Identifiers

PMID33886627
PMCPMC8061911

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.