COVID-19
Six-month antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare workers assessed by virus neutralisation and commercial assays
Since the SARS-CoV-2 emergence in December 2019, one of the major concerns is the duration of immune protection after a first episode. This question is of paramount importance for healthcare workers (HCWs) who are a highly exposed population and among the first targets of vaccination programmes. To date, the persistence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in HCWs six months after disease onset (ADO) has not been studied with both a virus neutralisation test and commercial assays.Outbreak of Candida auris infection in a COVID-19 hospital in Mexico
The aim of this study was to describe the clinical and microbiological characteristics of twelve patients with severe COVID-19 and Candida auris co-infection. Microbiological characterization of the isolates consisting on molecular identification, genotypification through multilocus sequence typing and antifungal susceptibility to eight antifungals was performed. Mortality among patients with COVID-19 and C. auris candidaemia was of 83.3% even with the use of appropriate antifungal therapy. All the isolates studied were resistant to amphotericin B.COVID-19 case fatality rates can be highly misleading in resource poor and fragile nations: the case of Yemen
During a disease outbreak, estimation of case fatality rate (CFR) is used as an indication of its severity, and a guide to plan public health strategies. Several factors affect the CFR of COVID-19 leading to false disparities between nations, especially resource poor and fragile nations. Therefore, CFRs of resource poor and fragile nations should be carefully interpreted considering all associated parameters, to serve as a guide in planning public health strategies, and channeling the limited resources and donations appropriately, taking into consideration other equally important healthcare needs in crippled healthcare systems.Long-term persistence of olfactory and gustatory disorders in COVID-19 patients
In the present study, we aimed to assess recovery rates at more than six months post-onset of anosmia and ageusia due to COVID-19 infection. Patients who reported anosmia and/or ageusia at the acute phase of a COVID-19 PCR-confirmed episode were retrospectively identified from a cohort of 3,737 patients seen at Hospital University institute, Marseille between 3 March and 27 April, 2020. A total of 200 patients were randomly selected. 75 (37.5%) were lost in follow-up and 125 (62.5%) answered the questionnaire.Gender disparities in COVID-19 clinical trial leadership
We aimed to compare the gender distribution of clinical trial leadership in COVID-19 clinical trials.Self-reported symptoms in healthy young adults to predict potential COVID-19 disease
To assess the utility of self-reported symptoms in identifying positive COVID-19 cases among predominantly healthy young adults, in a military setting.The importance of anosmia, ageusia and age in community presentation of symptomatic and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection in Louisiana, USA; a cross-sectional prevalence study
While many seroprevalence studies of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have been performed, few are demographically representative. This investigation focused on defining the nature and frequency of symptomatic and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection in a representative, cross-sectional sample of communities in Louisiana, USA.Testing SARS-CoV-2 vaccine efficacy through deliberate natural viral exposure
A vaccine trial with a conventional challenge design can be very fast once it starts, but it requires a long prior process, in part, to grow and standardize challenge virus in the laboratory. This detracts somewhat from its overall promise for accelerated efficacy testing of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidates, and from the ability of developing countries and small companies to conduct it.Antibiotic prescribing in patients with COVID-19: rapid review and meta-analysis
The proportion of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 that are prescribed antibiotics is uncertain, and may contribute to patient harm and global antibiotic resistance. Our objective was to estimate the prevalence and associated factors of antibiotic use in patients with confirmed COVID-19.Therapeutic strategies for severe COVID-19: a position paper from the Italian Society of Infectious and Tropical Diseases (SIMIT)
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has become pandemic, reaching almost one million death worldwide. At present, standard treatment for COVID-19 is not well defined, since the evidences either from randomized or observational studies, somehow with conflicting results, lead to rapid changes in guidelines. Our aim is to narratively summarize the available literature on the management of COVID-19 in order to combine current evidence and interpretation of the data by experts who are treating patients in the frontline.Better prognosis in females with severe COVID-19 pneumonia: possible role of inflammation as potential mediator
Sex differences in COVID-19 severity and mortality have been described. Key aims of this analysis were to compare the risk of invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) and mortality by sex and to explore whether variation in specific biomarkers could mediate this difference.Decreased prevalence rate of respiratory pathogens in hospitalized patients during the COVID-19 pandemic: possible role for public health containment measures?
The COVID-19 pandemic is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality, imposing an immense burden on health systems worldwide. One of the additional anticipated threats is the potential surge of other seasonal respiratory pathogens—influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and others—which may result in further exhaustion of health resources. Recent reports from France, Finland and rural Alaska have shown a significant decrease in acute respiratory infections in children after the implementation of lockdown [1,2] and social distancing [3].Re-evaluating positive serum samples for SARS-CoV-2-specific IgA and IgG antibodies using an in-house serological assay
We read the recent article by Caruana et al. exploring the current landscape of diagnostic tests for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and signalling interpretive issues of test results [1]. We were particularly interested in serological testing, which may fill the gap between negative results of RT-PCR—the reference standard for SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis [2]—and clinical (and radiological) findings suggestive of COVID-19 [3,4].Coronavirus disease 2019 experts appearing on Japanese television: their characteristics and financial conflicts of interest with pharmaceutical companies
Global efforts to regulate financial conflicts of interest (FCOI) between pharmaceutical companies and health-care sectors have gained popularity over the past decade. This arose primarily over concerns of the inappropriate influence FCOI may have on delivery of patient-centred care [1]. However, regulatory practices involving FCOI between pharmaceutical companies and the media industry attract little attention. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is currently the centre of attention among global and domestic mass media, with numerous daily reports.Risk factors associated with COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis in ICU patients: a French multicentric retrospective cohort
The main objective of this study was to determine the incidence of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), and to describe the patient characteristics associated with IPA occurrence and to evaluate its impact on prognosis.Effect of hydroxychloroquine pre-exposure on infection with SARS-CoV-2 in rheumatic disease patients: a population-based cohort study
Early in vitro studies have suggested that hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is a potentially useful drug against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections. This study was conducted to determine whether HCQ had a preventive effect on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in rheumatic disease patients who were taking HCQ.Corticosteroids in patients hospitalized for COVID-19 pneumonia who require oxygen: observational comparative study using routine care data
To assess the effectiveness of corticosteroids on outcomes of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia requiring oxygen without mechanical ventilation.Definitions for coronavirus disease 2019 reinfection, relapse and PCR re-positivity
By the beginning of November 2020, almost 50 million cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) had been reported worldwide, with over 35 million people defined as recovering from the disease [1]. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), updated on 10 September 2020, there were no confirmed reports to date of a person being reinfected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) within 3 months of the initial infection [2]. In the absence of solid human data, Rhesus monkeys were challenged 28 days after first SARS-CoV-2 infection with same virus strain and did not establish reinfection [3].Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in a large prospective cohort study of elite football players in Germany (May–June 2020): implications for a testing protocol in asymptomatic individuals and estimation of the rate of undetected cases
Elite professional football players and staff are a unique group that might give insight into the epidemiology of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections in Germany and thus can serve as a model for geographical distribution and an estimation of undetected infections.No evidence of SARS-CoV-2 circulation in HIV-infected patients between December 2019 and February 2020 in Rome, Italy
In this monocentric cross-sectional study we evaluated the IgG seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in HIV-infected outpatients who frequented our university hospital Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, in Rome between 1 December 2019 and 29 February 2020.Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in an area of northeastern Italy with a high incidence of COVID-19 cases: a population-based study
A seroprevalence study of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was conducted in a high-incidence area located in northeastern Italy.Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the diagnosis, management and prognosis of infective endocarditis
On 13 March, Spain declared a state of emergency and lockdown for COVID-19. In this context, organizational changes included, among others, the prohibition of holding face-to-face clinical meetings, the cancellation of non-urgent surgeries and the redistribution of medical teams to face the emergency. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the diagnosis, management and prognosis of infective endocarditis (IE) patients in Spanish referral centres. We hypothesize that during the COVID-19 pandemic, fewer IE episodes have been diagnosed, and fewer surgeries during the active phase of infection have been performed.Antibiotic use in the COVID-19 crisis in Spain
Before the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, antimicrobial resistance was the world's most pressing health crisis. The United Nations, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Center for Disease Control and Prevention have made antimicrobial resistance a top priority, establishing a task force in the G-20 and organizing a joint program initiative on antimicrobial resistance including countries from al over the world [1]. However, with the emergence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus pandemic in January 2020, all efforts are now focused on COVID-19, including controlling infections and developing vaccines [2].Coronavirus disease 2019 and geographical area of origin
To describe and compare the main clinical characteristics and outcome measures in hospitalized patients with confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) according to geographical area of origin.Antibody response using six different serological assays in a completely PCR-tested community after a coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak—the CoNAN study
Due to a substantial proportion of asymptomatic and mild courses, many severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections remain unreported. Therefore, assessment of seroprevalence may detect the real burden of disease. We aimed to determine and characterize the rate of SARS-CoV-2 infections and the resulting seroprevalence in a defined population. The primary objective of the study was to assess SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalence using six different IgG-detecting immunoassays.
