ASA, APSF update guidance for perioperative testing for COVID-19

Editor's Note

The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) and Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation (APSF) on August 4 updated their guidance for perioperative testing for COVID-19 to say that all patients having anesthetics or surgical procedures with the potential to generate aerosols should have preoperative testing for COVID-19, regardless of their vaccination status.

The statement notes that with the prevalence of the Delta variant and recent findings by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding breakthrough infections in fully vaccinated individuals, a robust perioperative screening and testing program to detect COVID-19, ideally within 3 days before a procedure, is essential for the safety of patients, healthcare workers, and the public.