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Abstract

Background

Contact tracing has been a key component of COVID-19 outbreak control. Backward contact tracing (BCT) aims to trace the source that infected the index case and, thereafter, the cases infected by the source. Modelling studies have suggested BCT will substantially reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission in addition to forward contact tracing.

Aim

To assess the feasibility and impact of adding BCT in practice.

Methods

We identified COVID-19 cases who were already registered in the electronic database between 19 February and 10 March 2021 for routine contact tracing at the Public Health Service (PHS) of Rotterdam-Rijnmond, the Netherlands (pop. 1.3 million). We investigated if, through a structured questionnaire by dedicated contact tracers, we could trace additional sources and cases infected by these sources. Potential sources identified by the index were approached to trace the source’s contacts. We evaluated the number of source contacts that could be additionally quarantined.

Results

Of 7,448 COVID-19 cases interviewed in the study period, 47% (n = 3,497) indicated a source that was already registered as a case in the PHS electronic database. A potential, not yet registered source was traced in 13% (n = 979). Backward contact tracing was possible in 62 of 979 cases, from whom an additional 133 potential sources were traced, and four were eligible for tracing of source contacts. Two additional contacts traced had to stay in quarantine for 1 day. No new COVID-19 cases were confirmed.

Conclusions

The addition of manual BCT to control the COVID-19 pandemic did not provide added value in our study setting.

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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2023-10-12
2024-12-23
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The value of manual backward contact tracing to control COVID-19 in practice, the Netherlands, February to March 2021: a pilot study
<p class="citation"> <span>Citation style for this article:</span> <span class="meta-value authors"> <a href="/search?value1=Timo+Louis+Boelsums&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Boelsums Timo Louis</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Inge+Anna+Theresia+van+de+Luitgaarden&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">van de Luitgaarden Inge Anna Theresia</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Jane+Whelan&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Whelan Jane</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Hanna+Poell&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Poell Hanna</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Charlotte+Maria+Hoffman&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Hoffman Charlotte Maria</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Ewout+Fanoy&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Fanoy Ewout</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Maaike+Buskermolen&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Buskermolen Maaike</a>, <a href="/search?value1=Jan+Hendrik+Richardus&option1=author&noRedirect=true" class="nonDisambigAuthorLink">Richardus Jan Hendrik</a></span>. The value of manual backward contact tracing to control COVID-19 in practice, the Netherlands, February to March 2021: a pilot study. <a href="/content/ecdc">Euro Surveill.</a> 2023;28(41):pii=2200916. <a href="https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2023.28.41.2200916" title="doi link" target="_blank">https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2023.28.41.2200916</a> <span class="ES_Article_citation"> <span class="generated">Received</span>: 18 Nov 2022;&nbsp;&nbsp; <span class="generated">Accepted</span>: 20 Jun 2023 </span> </p>
/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2023.28.41.2200916
/content/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2023.28.41.2200916
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