COVID-19 Surveillance Trends and Implementation Among Medical Students and Staff at a Saudi Medical College, 2020-2023

Abstract

Objective: To review institutional surveillance during the coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic, and to assess trends in confirmed cases as well as the contact burden among staff and students.

Method: The retrospective, observational, analytical study was conducted at the University of Bisha College of Medicine, Saudi Arabia, and comprised all confirmed, suspected and contact cases of coronavirus disease-2019 among adult students and staff officially enrolled or employed during the 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23 academic years. Case identification, contact tracing support, and transmission reduction among staff and students were focused upon. Data was collected using standardized procedures. Targeted individuals, confirmed cases, and contacts were grouped by academic years, institutional categories, and gender. Metrics, like positivity rate, contact burden, and contacts per case, were summarised annually, and case trends were analyzed. Data was analyzed using SPSS 26.

Results: In 2020-21, among 349 students, there were 21(6%) confirmed and 36(10.3%) contact cases. In 2021-22, among 379 students, there were 5(1.3%) confirmed cases and 3(0.8%) contact cases. In 2022-23, among 419 students, there were 2(0.5%) confirmed cases and 1(0.2%) contact case. Confirmed cases peak in Year Four at 18.9%, Staff at 24.3%. Contact cases mainly occurred in Year Two, at 43.8%, mostly among males (91.7%). Female cases drop to zero later, except for the staff. Category differences were significant for contact burden (X2 = 30.53, p = 0.0), but not for confirmed cases (X2 = 9.24, p = 0.1606). Confirmed cases varied across academic years (X2 = 25.84, p = 0.0), as did contact cases (X2 = 75.54, p = 0.0). Annual differences in confirmed and contact burdens were significant. The 2020-21 academic year showed higher confirmed burden (RR 2.97, p=0.0028) and contacts (RR 8.99, p=0.0) than 2021-2022, and higher confirmed (RR 9.81, p=0.0) and contact burdens (RR 49.42, p=0.0) than 2022-2023.

Conclusion: The institutional surveillance system helped maintain a safer workplace, and supported continuity of education during the pandemic.

Key Words: COVID-19, Contact tracing, Population surveillance, Medical education, Saudi Arabia.