Temperature screening for SARS
Jon Deeks with Michael Gardam, Wayne Gold, Maria Bacchus, Darlyne Rath, Christine Marquez and Sharon Straus (Toronto)
During the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak, tympanic thermometry became part of screening measures at many healthcare facilities. This study was completed to evaluate the measurement error and systematic differences between oral and tympanic thermometry and to assess the accuracy of a SARS screening strategy. An independent, blind comparison of standardized tympanic and oral thermometry was conducted amongst consecutive outpatients entering a quaternary health care facility during the outbreak. Between person variability and measurement error were calculated for both techniques.
The analysis noted that tympanic thermometry underestimates oral temperature assessment and has increased measurement error. We recommend a reduction in temperature thresholds to optimise detection rates if tympanic thermometers are to be used for SARS screening and fever surveillance.
