Impact of weekly asymptomatic testing for severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in inpatients at an academic hospital

We analyzed the impact of a 7-day recurring asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 testing protocol for all patients hospitalized at a large academic center. Overall, 40 new cases were identified, and 1 of 3 occurred after 14 days of hospitalization. Recurring testing can identify unrecognized infections, especially during periods of elevated community transmission.

Automated summary

This study analyzed the impact of a 7-day recurring asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 testing protocol for all hospitalized patients in a large academic center. The results showed that 40 new cases were identified, with 1 out of 3 cases occurring after 14 days of hospitalization. Recurring testing can effectively identify unrecognized infections, especially during periods of high community transmission.