Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, most elective surgeries were postponed, including cataract surgery. However, patients with severe and disabling visual impairment may have required urgent correction.

Objective: To report the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare personnel working with the patients requiring cataract surgery, under a pre-operative screening protocol.

Materials and Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted in the Suddhavej Hospital, Mahasarakham University, Mahasarakham, Thailand during the early unlocked phase in May 2020. The local pre-operative screening protocol used during the period included questionnaires and pre-operative nucleic acid testing to screen for COVID-19 infection among patients. A combination of serial single nucleic acid test and SARSCoV-2 IgG antibody testing were used to screen SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare personnel. Mask wearing and physical distancing were required during hospitalization.

Results: One hundred fifty-eight patients underwent cataract surgery under local anesthesia. Thirty-three healthcare personnel were included. All tests for SARS-CoV-2 were negative for both patients and healthcare personnel. The incidence rate of COVID-19 infection among healthcare personnel was 0 (95% CI 0.000 to 0.003) per 100 person-hours. There were no reported symptoms compatible with COVID-19 during the observed period and follow-up.

Conclusion: Due to a very low incidence rate of hospital-acquired SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare personnel, elective cataract surgery under local anesthesia could be continued during COVID-19 pandemic with strict adherence to screening protocol and other preventive measures. SARS-CoV-2 screening method by questionnaire alone may be feasible in a low COVID-19 incidence rate.

Keywords: Cataract surgery; COVID-19; Pre-operative SARS-CoV-2 screening; Pool PCR testing; In-hospital transmission

DOI: 10.35755/jmedassocthai.2022.04.13291

Received 17 January 2022 | Revised 1 March 2022 | Accepted 7 March 2022