Asymptomatic testing people for SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare facilities: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND

Asymptomatic testing involves the process whereby individuals who do not show symptoms of COVID-19 are tested for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection using any of the available laboratory test techniques.

AIM

To evaluate the effectiveness of testing asymptomatic individuals visiting, living or working in healthcare facilities in reducing SARS-CoV-2 viral infections.

SETTING

Healthcare databases.

METHOD

Electronic databases were searched and limited to English language and studies published 2020 to 02 September 2022. Following the methods for rapid systematic reviews, data were analysed using a fixed effect model, and results of the effect estimate were reported as odds ratios (OR) with their confidence intervals (CI) (95% CI).

RESULTS

Databases' searches yielded 3065 articles after deduplication and 3 studies by searching reference lists of included articles. After screening abstracts and full text articles, 3 cohort studies were included, each with serious risk of bias. Very low certainty evidence shows a decrease in occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 infections in the asymptomatic testing group among patients going for index surgery (OR: 0.05, 95 % CI: 0.00-0.82; 501 participants; 1 study) and among long term care facility staff (OR: 0.31, 95 % CI: 0.18-0.52; 3457 participants; 2 studies, = 89%) than the 'no asymptomatic testing' group. However, its effect on their residents was contradictory.

CONCLUSION

There is limited quality evidence to support asymptomatic testing of individuals for SARS-CoV-2 in the prevention of virus transmission in health care settings.

CONTRIBUTION

In the event of a future pandemic, this review offers current evidence on the potential effects of asymptomatic testing.