SARS-CoV-2 universal screening upon adult hospital admission in Southern Israel.

As the prevalence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) increased in the local community, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) universal screening was initiated for all adult patients admitted through the emergency departments (EDs) at Soroka University Medical Centre. Of 8518 patients screened, 288 (3.38%) tested positive. One hundred and thirty-three (46%) positive cases were asymptomatic and would have been admitted without necessary precautions. Patients with symptoms that may be attributable to COVID-19 were significantly older and were admitted through the medical ED. Patients of Bedouin Arab ethnicity accounted for half of those who tested positive, which was double their prevalence in the general population. These findings indicate that universal SARS-CoV-2 screening on adult hospital admission is crucial in areas with a high prevalence of COVID-19.

Maternal First Trimester TSH Concentrations: Do They Affect Perinatal and Endocrine Outcomes?

We aimed to examine the distribution of 1(st) trimester TSH and evaluate its association with perinatal outcomes and future development of maternal thyrotoxicosis. This retrospective cohort study included data of all women without prior thyroid disease who delivered a singleton at our medical center from 1/2001 to 12/2011 and had a 1(st) trimester TSH<4.0 mU/l. Women were divided according to 1(st) trimester TSH concentrations into quartiles and by predefined TSH values (mU/l): 1) TSH<0.1; 2) TSH 0.11-0.2; 3) TSH 0.21-0.4; and 4) TSH 0.4-4. Obstetrical outcomes, hCG concentrations, and future thyroid status were collected from electronic medical records. A total of 13 841 women fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Mean maternal TSH concentration at 5 weeks of gestation was 2.09±0.83 mU/l and decreased to 1.29±0.87 mU/l in weeks 8-9 with an increase towards the end of the 1(st) trimester. Odds ratio for future thyrotoxicosis was 3.64 in the lowest compared to the highest TSH quartile and 10.03 in those with TSH<0.1 compared to TSH 0.41-4 mU/l. Rates of female fetuses were higher in the low TSH quartiles and in the lower TSH groups, however baby gender was not associated with increased risk of future thyrotoxicosis. Low maternal 1(st) trimester TSH quartiles or concentrations were not associated with adverse pregnancy outcome. Only a minor fraction of pregnant women with a low first tirmester TSH subsequently developed future thyrotoxicosis.