PLOS Global Public Health (Jan 2023)

Using rapid antigen testing for early, safe return-to-work for healthcare personnel after SARS-CoV-2 infection in a healthcare system in Pakistan: A retrospective cross-sectional study.

  • Unab Inayat Khan,
  • Syed Faisal Mahmood,
  • Sara Khan,
  • Zahra Hasan,
  • Ahmed Cheema,
  • Asif Hakim,
  • Shehreen Inayat Ali

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0001746
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 3, no. 3
p. e0001746

Abstract

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Anticipating staff shortage during the Omicron variant surge, we modified the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's contingency guidelines at a healthcare system in Pakistan. Infected staff had a SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen test after 5-7 days of isolation, to decide a safe return-to-work. This led to signifcant cost savings without compromising patient/staff safety.