There is one clinical trial.
Doctors, nurses and staff members of ear-nose and throat (ENT) departments are at high risk due to aerosol-inducing diagnostic procedures and surgery during the COVID-19 epidemic. Reports from China, Spain, Italy and England report of fatal cases among ENT specialists. With a concurrent lack of personal protection, it is of paramount importance to identify patients and healthcare workers at an early stage to prevent a COVID-19 outbreak in the department. A baseline study of all healthcare workers has been performed. Follow-up will be accomplished by interval testing, antibody measurements and REDcap Covid-19 questionnaires. All patients at risk of carrying SARS-CoV-2, or who are candidates for high-risk airway surgery will be tested. Infection control measures at the department will be implemented progressively according to the real-time surveillance results from both patients and healthcare workers.
Description: Change from baseline in number of healthcare workers positive for SARS-CoV-2. Measured by repetitive naso/oropharyngeal swab tests of all active healthcare workers at the department.
Measure: Incidence of healthcare workers with SARS-CoV-2 Time: 6 monthsDescription: Change from baseline in number of patients positive for SARS-CoV-2. Measured by naso/oropharyngeal swab tests
Measure: Incidence of ENT patients with SARS-CoV-2 Time: 6 monthsDescription: Incidence and prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies by repetitive blood samples testing SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels of immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin M
Measure: Development of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among healthcare workers Time: 6 monthsDescription: Compare number of positive questionnaires with number of positive oro/nasopharyngeal swab test and antibody tests
Measure: Sensitivity and specificity of a COVID-19 screening symptom questionnaire among healthcare workers Time: 6 monthsDescription: Change from baseline in total number of complications to upper respiratory tract infections (URTI). Proportion of SARS CoV-2 positives among patients with URTI compared to proportion of SARS CoV-2 positive among ENT patients with non-infectious disease (eg cancer)
Measure: SARS CoV-2 and bacterial super infections in upper respiratory airways Time: 6 months