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Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Testing Trends Among Persons Aged <18 Years in an Outpatient Pediatric Practice — Metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia, May–December 2020
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July 2021
Source: J Adolesc Health. 69(1):144-148
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Alternative Title:J Adolesc Health
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Description:Purpose
The purpose of this study was to analyze trends in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) testing and test positivity among persons aged <18 years in a three-site outpatient pediatric practice in Atlanta, Georgia, serving approximately 35,000 pediatric patients.
Methods
Using electronic medical records, weekly trends in SARS-CoV-2 tests performed and the 14-day moving average of test positivity were examined, overall and by age group, during May 24–December 5, 2020.
Results
Among 4,995 patients who received at least 1 SARS-CoV-2 test, 6,813 total tests were completed. Overall test positivity was 5.4% and was higher among older pediatric patients (<5 years: 3.3%; 5–11 years: 4.1%; 12–17 years: 8.6%). The number of tests and test positivity increased after holidays and school breaks.
Conclusions
Families might benefit from communication focused on reducing SARS-CoV-2 transmission during holidays. In addition, given higher test positivity in children aged 12–17 years, tailoring public health messaging to older adolescents could help limit SARS-CoV-2 transmission risk in this population.
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Pubmed ID:34172138
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Pubmed Central ID:PMC8219291
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