Hospital oral food challenge tests in the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic: A nationwide survey

Abstract

Oral food challenge (OFC) tests are necessary in food allergy practice. [1][2][3][4] The spread of the Omicron variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 significantly affected food allergy practice. 5,6 Universal pre-admission screening for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may effectively identify patients with asymptomatic COVID-19. 7 However, no studies have reported the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic and pre-admission screening for COVID-19 on the number of inpatient OFC tests conducted at hospitals. This multicenter nationwide cross-sectional survey aimed to determine the number of inpatient OFC tests conducted at hospitals, infection control measures undertaken, number of nosocomial COVID-19 infections, and positive rates for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) following universal pre-admission screening. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the National Hospital Organization, Sagamihara National Hospital (Approval no. 2022-013). Additional details related to the methods are presented in Supplementary Materials. Of 373 pediatric training facilities contacted (Figure S1), 186 facilities responded to our online questionnaire (response rate, 50%), five were excluded due to missing data, and four were excluded because OFC tests had been suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic. The data from 177 facilities were then analyzed. Concerning OFC tests, all 177 facilities (100%) had checked body temperature, 176 (99%) had checked interview sheets, 172 (97%) had undertaken a medical check-up prior to OFC testing, and 136 (77%) had undertaken universal masking. Concerning inpatient OFC tests, 15,858 OFC tests were conducted, including 12,503 in shared rooms and 3355 in private rooms. Of 177 facilities, 110 (73%) had conducted universal preadmission screening tests for COVID-19 for patients prior to an OFC test and 64 (37%) had conducted universal pre-admission screening tests for COVID-19 for both patients and family members. Of 110 facilities that conducted universal pre-admission screening tests for COVID-19, 55 had performed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, 48 had performed rapid antigen tests, and 10 had performed nucleic acid amplification (loop-mediated isothermal amplification [LAMP]) tests (including duplications). Samples were no role in the study design, collection, analysis, and interpretation of data, writing of the report, or decision to submit the article for publication. CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT