Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34593887›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2021

Feasibility of a surveillance programme based on gargle samples and pool testing to prevent SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks in schools.

Catherine M Sweeney-Reed, Doreen Wolff, Sarah Hörnschemeyer, Henriette Faßhauer, Antonia Haase, Dirk Schomburg, Jakob Niggel, Michael Kabesch, Christian Apfelbacher

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
0.5field-weighted citation impact, top 34% of its field
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

7 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 8 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Performance of saline and water gargling for SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcriptase PCR testing: a systematic review and meta-analysis.European respiratory review : an official journal of the European Respiratory Society · 2022
    Pooled it
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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 at 2 institutions in 1 country.

Catherine M Sweeney-Reed *Neurocybernetics and Rehabilitation, Dept. of Neurology, Medical Faculty, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Leipziger Str. 44, Magdeburg, Germany. catherine.sweeney-reed@med.ovgu.de.
Doreen Wolff *Institute of Social Medicine and Health System Research, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
Sarah HörnschemeyerInstitute of Social Medicine and Health System Research, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
Henriette FaßhauerInstitute of Social Medicine and Health System Research, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
Antonia HaaseInstitute of Social Medicine and Health System Research, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
Dirk SchomburgInstitute of Biometry und Medical Informatics (IBMI), Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
Jakob NiggelUniversity of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
Michael KabeschUniversity Children's Hospital Regensburg (KUNO), Hospital St. Hedwig of the Order of St. John, Regensburg, Germany.
Christian ApfelbacherInstitute of Social Medicine and Health System Research, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.
Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg · DEUniversity of Regensburg · DE

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

School closures have a negative impact on physical and mental well-being, and education, of children and adolescents. A surveillance programme to detect asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection could allow schools to remain open, while protecting the vulnerable. We assessed the feasibility of a programme employing gargle samples and pool testing of individually extracted RNA using rRT-qPCR in a primary and a secondary school in Germany, based on programme logistics and acceptance. Twice a week, five participants per class were selected to provide samples, using an algorithm weighted by a risk-based priority score to increase likelihood of case detection. The positive response rate was 54.8% (550 of 1003 pupils). Logistics evaluation revealed the rate-limiting steps: completing the regular pre-test questionnaire and handing in the samples. Acceptance questionnaire responses indicated strong support for research into developing a surveillance programme and a positive evaluation of gargle tests. Participation was voluntary. As not all pupils participated, individual reminders could lead to participant identification. School-wide implementation of the programme for infection monitoring purposes would enable reminders to be given to all school pupils to address these steps, without compromising participant anonymity. Such a programme would provide a feasible means to monitor asymptomatic respiratory tract infection in schools.

Indexed as

Epidemiological MonitoringAdolescentChildCOVID-19COVID-19 Nucleic Acid TestingDisease OutbreaksFeasibility StudiesGermanyHumansPandemicsSalivaSchoolsStudentsSurveys and Questionnaires

Identifiers

PMID34593887
PMCPMC8484445
OpenAlexW3203067646

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.