Preoperative COVID-19 testing at pediatric institutions – Current practice

Edition: January-February 2023

Geng-Ramos G, Challa C, Pestieau SR, Brennan M, Heitmiller E, Cronin JA.

Paediatr Anaesth. 2023 Jan;33(1):86-88. doi: 10.1111/pan.14575. Epub 2022 Oct 19. PMID: 36251529; PMCID: PMC9874721.

Full text: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9874721/

Results of a survey sent to US paediatric institutions to explore the pre-operative testing protocols in use at the time (Feb 2022, repeated June 2022). The results from 27/62 (44%) responding institutions were collated. The major change was a move away from PCR testing only (69% –> 52%) and towards protocols involving both PCR and RAT (27% –> 44%)

Commentary

Now a little old and insufficiently detailed to allow direct comparison with current pre-operative testing protocols here in A&NZ, it does demonstrate that processes have continued to be adapted as testing availability and other associated issues (eg. PPE availability) change. Outcome data relating to these changes are lacking.

Reviewed by Ian Miles

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