COVI-Prim survey: Challenges for Austrian and German general practitioners during initial phase of COVID-19

BackgroundCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) represents a significant challenge to health care systems around the world. A well-functioning primary care system is crucial in epidemic situations as it plays an important role in the development of a system-wide response. Methods2,187 Austrian and German GPs answered an internet suvey on preparedness, testing, staff protection, perception of risk, self-confidence, a decrease in the number of patient contacts, and efforts to control the spread of the virus in the practice during the early phase of the COVID-pandemic (3rd to 30th April). ResultsThe completion rate of the questionnaire was high (90.9%). GPs gave low ratings to their preparedness for a pandemic, testing of suspected cases and efforts to protect staff. The provision of information to GPs and the perception of risk were rated as moderate. On the other hand, the participants rated their self-confidence, a decrease in patient contacts and their efforts to control the spread of the disease highly. ConclusionPrimary care is an important resource for dealing with a pandemic like COVID-19. The workforce is confident and willing to take an active role, but needs to be provided with the appropriate surrounding conditions. This will require that certain conditions are met. RegistrationTrial registration at the German Clinical Trials Register: DRKS00021231 Primary Funding SourceThe study was financed by the cooperating University Institutes without any external financial support.

RT-PCR testing to detect a COVID-19 outbreak in Austria: rapid, accurate and early diagnosis in primary care (The REAP study)

BackgroundDelay in COVID-19 detection has led to a major pandemic. We report rapid early detection of SARS-CoV-2 by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), comparing it to the serostatus of convalescent infection, at an Austrian National Sentinel Surveillance Practice in an isolated ski-resort serving a population of 22,829 people. MethodsRetrospective dataset of all 73 patients presenting with mild to moderate flu-like symptoms to a sentinel practice in the ski-resort of Schladming-Dachstein, Austria, between 24 February and 03 April, 2020. We split the outbreak in two halves, by dividing the period from the first to the last case by two, to characterise the following three cohorts of patients with confirmed infection: people with reactive RT-PCR presenting during the first half (early acute infection) vs. those presenting in the second half (late acute), and people with non-reactive RT-PCR (late convalescent). For each cohort we report the number of cases detected, the accuracy of RT-PCR and the duration of symptoms. We also report multivariate regression of 15 clinical symptoms as covariates, comparing all people with convalescent infection to those with acute infection. FindingsAll 73 patients had SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR testing. 22 patients were diagnosed with COVID-19, comprising: 8 patients presenting early acute, and 7 presenting late acute and 7 late convalescent respectively; 44 patients tested SARS-COV-2 negative, and 7 were excluded. RT-PCR sensitivity was high (100%) among acute presenters, but dropped to 50% in the second half of the outbreak; specificity was 100%. The mean duration of symptoms was 2 days (range 1-4) among early acute presenters, and 4.4 days (1-7) among late acute and 8 days (2-12) among late convalescent presenters respectively. Convalescent infection was only associated with loss of taste (ORs=6.02;p=0.047). Acute infection was associated with loss of taste (OR=571.72;p=0.029), nausea and vomiting (OR=370.11;p=0.018), breathlessness (OR=134.46;p=0.049), and myalgia (OR=121.82;p=0.032); but not loss of smell, fever or cough. InterpretationRT-PCR rapidly and reliably detects early COVID-19 among people presenting with viral illness and multiple symptoms in primary care, particularly during the early phase of an outbreak. RT-PCR testing in primary care should be prioritised for effective COVID-19 prevention and control. Research in ContextO_ST_ABSEvidence before this studyC_ST_ABSA comprehensive and effective test-trace-isolate (TTI) strategy is necessary to keep track of current and future COVID-19 infection in the UK and avoid a secondary wave later this year, as society reopens. As part of a wider TTI strategy, it is important to assess the feasibility of COVID-19 testing in primary care. We searched PubMed for implementation of SARS-CoV-2 testing in primary care using the following search terms: ("SARS-CoV-2" OR "COVID-19") AND "testing" AND ("primary care" OR "general practice"). We did not find any studies that met these criteria. Added value of this studyTo our knowledge, our study provides first evidence that extension of a National Influenza Surveillance Programme to include SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR testing in primary care leads to viral detection among patients presenting with mild to moderate flu-like illness during a local outbreak of COVID-19. We show that the sensitivity of reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), the technique to detect viral RNA, is high (100%) in the initial phase of the outbreak and among patients who were acutely unwell. Acute infection was associated with multiply symptoms: loss of taste, nausea and vomiting, breathlessness, myalgia and sore throat; but not loss of smell, fever or cough. We also show high correlation between reactive RT-PCR and seropositivity. Implications of all available evidenceOur findings suggest that RT-PCR can rapidly and reliably detect early COVID-19 among people presenting with viral illness and multiple symptoms in primary care, particularly during the early phase of an outbreak. Furthermore RT-PCR testing in primary care can effectively detect new COVID-19 clusters in the community and should be included in any strategy for prevention and control of the disease.