385 - Incidence and Cumulative Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in Asymptomatic Pediatric Patients

Purpose: To investigate trends in SARS-CoV-2 (COVID -19) infection in asymptomatic pediatric patients seeking aerosol generating procedures (AGPs) at an academic dental institution in the U.S. Midwest.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed COVID-19 test results (Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and rapid antigen tests) conducted between July 1, 2020-October 31, 2021. The review includes tests collected at Children’s Hospital and the pre-doctoral pediatric dental clinic located in Lincoln. Per clinic protocols, PCR and Rapid antigen tests were scheduled and conducted for asymptomatic pediatric patients prior to an aerosol generating procedure.

Results: Of the 1,097 COVID-19 tests completed on asymptomatic pediatric patients (54.4% female) during the study period, 41 (3.7%) of test results were positive and 1056 (96.3%) were negative. Overall prevalence rates of SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 was 41 per 1,097 screened asymptomatic pediatric patients between January 1, 2020 to October 31, 2021. Among the patients who tested positive, 15 were male and 26 were female. Chi-Square revealed no significant relationship between test result and gender.

Conclusions: The study quantifies incidence and cumulative prevalence of SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 for asymptomatic pediatric patients prior to an aerosol generating procedure. The cumulative prevalence was 3.7% from January 2020 through October of 2021. All of the tests conducted were completed on screened asymptomatic pediatric patients and would likely have gone undetected without pre-treatment test. If safely able to postpone dental care, COVID-19 positive patients were rescheduled. Asymptomatic COVID-19 testing in children removes infected children from school, who were not identified through conventional symptom detection or COVID-19 exposure. This information could help decrease possible transmission in schools by notifying parents of positive tests. The findings do suggest that prevention strategies are very important for pediatric patients as well. Prevention strategies include handwashing, COVID-19 vaccination, masking, and physical distancing.