Background COVID-19 is caused by SARS-CoV-2. Virus has been found in conjunctiva of hospitalised patients with COVID-19. Conjunctivitis has also been reported as a presenting symptom of disease. Objective The aims of the study were to investigate the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in the conjunctiva and throat among patients presenting at the emergency outpatient ophthalmological healthcare facility at a county hospital along with investigating the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among staff at the department. Methods and Analysis Swabs from conjunctiva and throat of patients were analysed with real-time reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) for SARS-CoV-2. Blood samples for serological analysis were obtained from staff. A questionnaire was used to investigate symptoms associated with COVID-19 during the last 3 months as well as symptoms for which the patients were seeking ophthalmological healthcare. Results In total, 68 patients and 70 individuals from the staff were included in the study. Conjunctivitis was observed in 7% of patients. One patient, presenting with reduced visual acuity due to preretinal haemorrhage in the macula, was positive for SARS-CoV-2 in throat swab. Contact tracing was negative. All other RT-PCR tests were negative. Seropositivity for SARS-CoV-2 was found in 4% of staff. Conclusions Our study demonstrated low prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among patients as well as low seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG-antibodies among staff at the ophthalmological ward. The risk for contracting COVID-19 at the department was small. Follow-up investigation is planned.

中文翻译：

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一项横断面研究在瑞典县医院的急诊门诊眼科医疗机构的结膜拭子中未发现SARS-CoV-2

背景COVID-19是由SARS-CoV-2引起的。在住院的COVID-19患者的结膜中发现了病毒。结膜炎也已被报道为疾病的症状。目的研究目的是调查县医院急诊眼科医疗设施中出现在结膜和咽喉中的SARS-CoV-2患病率，并调查SARS-CoV-2的血清学患病率。部门。方法与分析采用实时逆转录酶PCR（RT-PCR）方法对SARS-CoV-2患者的结膜和咽部拭子进行分析。从工作人员那里获取了用于血清学分析的血液样本。使用问卷调查过去3个月内与COVID-19相关的症状，以及患者寻求眼科保健的症状。结果本研究共纳入68名患者和70名员工。在7％的患者中观察到结膜炎。一名因黄斑部视网膜前出血而导致视力下降的患者，咽拭子SARS-CoV-2呈阳性。联系人跟踪为负。所有其他RT-PCR测试均为阴性。在4％的员工中发现了SARS-CoV-2的血清阳性。结论我们的研究表明，眼科工作人员中SARS-CoV-2的患病率较低，SARS-CoV-2 IgG抗体的血清阳性率较低。在部门签约COVID-19的风险很小。