The Practice and Effectiveness of COVID-19 RNA Detection in the Prevention and Control of Ophthalmic Hospital

Abstract

Objective: To explore a practical system of precision prevention and control against Corona Virus Disease 19 (COVID-19) for eye hospitals by emphasizing on systematic and standardized virus RNA detection procedures. Methods: To include standardized virus RNA detection along with blood routine test (BRT), C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid A (SAA) into preoperative screening test items for ocular surgical patients and to provide virus RNA detection for returned employees between 24 February 2020 and 2 March 2020. In addition, a questionnaire is designed to investigate the acceptability of nasopharyngeal swab sampling and the influence of virus RNA detection results on mental status of the examinee. Result: 99 examination results showed a certain percentage of abnormal, among which 13 cases showing increase in SAA, 12 cases showing decrease and 5 cases showing increase in lymphocyte count (LYM), 1 case showing decrease and 11 cases showing increase in white blood count (WBC), 2 cases showing increase in CRP. All cases showing negative in COVID-19 RNA detection, including examined patients and 33 employees of the Eye Hospital.11.7% of respondents reported a low acceptance score for nasopharyngeal swab sampling. The proportion of the examinees with higher mental stress scores before and after the virus RNA detection was 46.7% and 6.7% respectively. Conclusion: The detection procedures can offer objective basis for preoperative screening and differential diagnosis, whilst largely eliminating the possibility of transmission via asymptomatic infected individuals. On the other hand, the negative result of virus RNA detection is beneficial in adjusting patient’s preoperative psychological state and relieving the mental stress of medical staff during the epidemic. Key words: COVID-19; Infection; epidemic prevention and control; RNA detection; ophthalmology; effectiveness