Normal Body Temperature and Negative Covid 19 Questionnaire Sufficient Prior to Diagnostic Neurological Testing to Prevent Covid 19 Transmission to Health Personnel ()
1. Rationale
On March 10, 2020 Governor of Michigan declared state of emergency due to Covid 19 Pandemic [1]. On March 23, 2020 stay a home order was issued [2]. We closed our office that day and were open to only Telemedicine appointments until May 13, 2020 when the order was partially lifted. No neuro-diagnostic testing of any kind was performed in this period [3]. On May 18, upon reopening, were faced with dilemma of providing neuro-diagnostic testing to our patients with whom we had face-to-face encounter while reasonably protecting our employees against this disease. In the absence of any guidelines for such an endeavor, precious little data in literature [4] [5] and calm their nerves of jittery medical personnel in our office we utilized a 3 pronged approach.
We took forehead temperature on each patient prior to face-to-face encounters and insisted on a negative standard Covid 19 questionnaire (Appendix). Since, headache, myalgias and fatigue are common neurological symptoms, they were not automatically considered as a cause of exclusion unless both were present together at least 2 of 3 in the same person, however. Clinical evaluation required only the first two items but if neuro-diagnostic testing of any kind was contemplated, we also required a single negative Covid 19 PCR test, taken on-site by the same technician either nasal or oral depending on the type of availability of the swab at that time. Our rationale was that neuro-diagnostic testing requires more intimate and prolonged contact with the patient and requires additional layer of protection. Abbott laboratory technique [6], authorized on or about the same time on an emergency basis, was utilized for PCR amplification and results were typically available in 24 - 96 hrs. The tests were all processed at the same laboratory. We still insisted that the medical personnel observe all PPE, leave the door ajar for proper ventilation and limit the access of the patient’s relatives to the test area except under most exceptional circumstances. Unlike some suggestions in the literature [5], the test duration was not curtailed.
2. Patients and Methods
542 consecutive neurological patients aged 18 - 90, 35% females, 65% males who needed any neuro-diagnostic testing in our office were all pre-screened. The patients suffered from conditions such as headaches, low back pain, seizures, sleep apnea, narcolepsy, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, radiculopathy, carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome, parasomnias, insomnias, attention deficit disorder, pseudo-dementia, dizziness, orthostatic hypotension, dysautonomia, postural tachycardia etc. (Table 1).
Evaluation by the physician or a mild-level provider including H and P required only negative temperature reading and a negative standard Covid 19 questionnaire. However, if a neuro-diagnostic testing was considered necessary, the Covid 19 swab was also obtained.
LPOW infrared forehead thermometer model: HTD8813C was utilized. The patient was considered afebrile if the temperature was 99.1 degree F or less.
A standard Covid 19 questionnaire modified for our office from the guidelines from CDC at that time was used (Appendix) and any patient with any one of the most common symptoms namely cough, fever, shortness of breath, dry cough, anosmia, ageusia, chills, sore throat, running nose, sneezing, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea or two or more of auxiliary symptoms such as headache, fatigue and myalgia were considered not fit for testing. Those exposed to a patient with Covid 19 within 14 days, those in quarantine or those who had travelled elsewhere within 14 days were excluded.
A single Covid 19 swab was taken either nose or throat depending on which swab was available on the day of testing using the standard technique by the same laboratory technician throughout the study period and processed/amplified by standard PCR technique by Abbott, approved for emergency use on about thesame time when we began this study, at the bio-tech laboratories. The results were available in 24 - 96 hours after the swab was taken.
Neuro-diagnostic testing was always carried out with full PPE precautions, keeping the door ajar while testing and not allowing relatives during the procedure, whenever possible. The scope and duration of testing was not limited or curtailed for any test.
The tests performed were:
EEG, video-EEG, 48 hour ambulatory EEG, PSG, MSLT, CPAP titration, neuropsychological testing, EMG/NCV, VNG/Balance test and autonomic testing including the tilt table test, Q sart, HRDB and Valsalva (Table 2).
3. Results
They are shown in Tables 1-3.
4. Discussion
There is tremendous fear amongst health care personnel about contracting Covid 19 while dispensing services to the patients. During this pandemic the health care personnel have borne disproportionate burden of infection and illnesses and deaths from the Covid 19 [7]. The pandemic is far from over and the whole world is currently facing its fourth surge. Only one virus illness has ever been eradicated by humanity, i.e. the small pox [8]. Even that virus still lives in labs of some of the most powerful nations, hopefully under very tight control in the laboratory.
Most virus illnesses, once they occur, they are there to stay, survive and even thrive, the pandemics typically become endemic. It appears that, barring a miracle, Covid 19 is probably here to stay although the pandemic may change into an endemic [9].
Simple strategies are needed to reasonably reduce the exposure to health care personnel while they strive to dispense much-needed care or diagnostic testing.
It appears that based on our data of 542 consecutive unselected patients and 1109 neuro-diagnostic tests over six months, a simple no-touch frontal temperature testing and a standard Covid 19 questionnaire provides reasonable protection to neuro-diagnostic personnel and technicians from catching the virus provided they continue to observe PPE and common-sense precautions such as limiting the relatives during the testing and maintaining proper ventilation such as leaving the door ajar. Abbreviation of tests, as recommended in some sparse literature on this matter, is not necessary.
We have abandoned the Covid 19 swab pre-screening in all patients if the forehead temperature is normal and the Covid 19 questionnaire is negative, based on our study with no occurrence of Covid 19 in any personnel since. Most telling is the lack of infection to the laboratory tech who collected all our samples and the clinical neurophysiology tech who performed bulk of all tests—the EEG, ambulatory EEG, brief computerized neuropsychological testing, VNG, balance test, Q Sart, tilt table test, HRDB and Valsalva.
As a side note, all our personnel is all vaccinated for Covid 19 Pfizer vaccine since this study was completed except one sleep tech who has elected not to be vaccinated.
Appendix
BG Tricounty Neurology & Sleep Clinic PC
Patient Advisory and Acknowledgement
Receiving Treatment during COVID-19 Pandemic
Dear Patient,
You have presented to the office today because you have an urgent condition which must be treated at this time and cannot be postponed until the current COVID-19 period abates. Please be advised of the following:
While our office complies with the State Health Dept and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention infection control guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19 virus, we cannot make any guarantees.
Our staff are symptom free and, to the best of their knowledge, have not been exposed to the virus. However, since we are a place of public accommodation, other persons (including other patients) could be infected, with or without their knowledge.
In order to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19, we are asking you a number of “screening” questions below. For the safety of our staff, other patients, and yourself, please be truthful and candid in your answers.
Screening Questions:
Are you currently awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test? YES NO
Do you have a fever? YES NO
Do you have shortness of breath? YES NO
Do you have a dry cough? YES NO
Do you have a sore throat? YES NO
Do you have gastrointestinal distress? YES NO
Do you have sneezing, runny nose or sinus pressure?
That is unusual and not related to seasonal allergies? YES NO
Do you have a new loss of taste or smell? YES NO
Do you have chills or repeated shaking with chills? YES NO
Do you have muscle pain, fatigue or weakness? YES NO
Do you have a headache? YES NO
Have you been in close contact with someone who has a
Confirmed or probable diagnosis of COVID-19? YES NO
Have you travelled within the last 14 days? YES NO
If yes: Internationally? ________ Domestically? ________
**NOTE: If you are scheduled for testing in our office, you will be screened by a COVID-19 nasal swab PCR.
Patient Name: ________________________________________
Patient Signature: ______________________________________
Date: __________________________
FOR OFFICE USE:
Staff Member Name: ______________________
Patient Temperature: ____________________