Chest Medicine
New CDC Guidance shortens isolation and quarantine period for Covid-19; patients that tested positive should isolate for 5 days and, if asymptomatic after this period, can leave isolation if they can continue to mask for 5 days to minimize the risk of infecting others.
9 Jan, 2022 | 01:13h | UTCSee also: Quarantine and Isolation – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Commentaries:
Facing criticism, CDC updates Covid-19 isolation recommendations with guidance on testing – CNN
CDC posts rationale for shorter isolation, quarantine – Associated Press
Covid-19: CDC shortens isolation period as US cases hit record high – The BMJ
Shortened CDC COVID isolation guide draws sharply mixed reviews – CIDRAP
New CDC isolation guidelines raise concerns among health experts – NPR
CDC Reduces Recommended Isolation Time for People With COVID-19 – HealthDay
COVID isolation and quarantine period for general population shortened by CDC – News Medical
CDC shortens recommended Covid-19 isolation and quarantine time – CNN
CDC cuts the recommended isolation and quarantine periods for coronavirus infections – NPR
US officials recommend shorter COVID isolation, quarantine – Associated Press
See new recommendations from other countries:
Covid: Self-isolation cut from 10 days to seven with negative tests – BBC
Omicron’s feeble attack on the lungs could make it less dangerous.
11 Jan, 2022 | 01:23h | UTCOmicron’s feeble attack on the lungs could make it less dangerous – Nature
Diagnostics for COVID-19: moving from pandemic response to control.
8 Jan, 2022 | 23:33h | UTCDiagnostics for COVID-19: moving from pandemic response to control – The Lancet
Commentary on Twitter
Diagnostics—crucial during the #COVID19 pandemic.
A new Review discusses the 3 major methods for detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection & their evolution over time: moving from pandemic response to control.
Learn more 👉 https://t.co/6Him1H3VG7 pic.twitter.com/jt7yHkolCK
— The Lancet (@TheLancet) December 21, 2021
[Preprint] RCT: In symptomatic adults above 18 years positive for SARS-CoV-2, early outpatient treatment with high-titer convalescent plasma significantly reduced hospitalizations.
8 Jan, 2022 | 23:28h | UTCNews release: Early Use of Convalescent Plasma May Help Outpatients with COVID-19 Avoid Hospitalization – Johns Hopkins Medicine
Commentary: Convalescent plasma shows renewed promise for COVID-19 in outpatient trial – Science
Retrospective cohort study: In patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE), treatment with apixaban was associated with lower rates for recurrent VTE and bleeding compared to rivaroxaban.
8 Jan, 2022 | 22:36h | UTCCommentaries:
Apixaban shows superior effectiveness, safety compared to rivaroxaban – ACP Internist
Recurrent VTE and Bleeding With Apixaban vs. Rivaroxaban – American College of Cardiology
RCT: Among patients hospitalized with COVID-19 at increased risk for venous thromboembolism, post-discharge thromboprophylaxis with Rivaroxaban for 35 days may improve outcomes.
17 Dec, 2021 | 09:50h | UTCInvited commentary: Anticoagulation in COVID-19 – The Lancet
Commentary on Twitter
NEW: The role of extended thromboprophylaxis in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 at risk for thrombotic events after discharge – findings from MICHELLE trial https://t.co/OWcmjCLBTw pic.twitter.com/3Bl4lV16Va
— The Lancet (@TheLancet) December 16, 2021
RCT: Molnupiravir reduced the risk of hospitalization or death in at-risk (i.e., obesity, over 60 years, etc.) unvaccinated adults with Covid-19.
17 Dec, 2021 | 09:52h | UTCRelated: Merck’s COVID pill loses its lustre: what that means for the pandemic – Nature (several articles on the subject)
WHO issues interim recommendations for heterologous COVID-19 vaccine schedules.
17 Dec, 2021 | 10:01h | UTCInterim recommendations for heterologous COVID-19 vaccine schedules – World Health Organization
Commentary: Coronavirus: WHO gives the nod for mix-and-match vaccine schedules – South China Morning Post
Randomized trial with nearly 30.000 individuals showed Novavax vaccine was safe and had an overall efficacy of 90.4% against symptomatic infections.
17 Dec, 2021 | 09:54h | UTCCommentaries:
Novavax COVID vaccine shows 90.4% efficacy against infection – CIDRAP
Novavax COVID-19 vaccine found to be safe and effective – University of Maryland School of Medicine
Related: [Preprint] In RCT with 29,949 participants, the Novavax vaccine demonstrated high overall efficacy (>90%) for the prevention of Covid-19, and all moderate-to-severe cases occurred in placebo recipients. (several articles on the subject)
Covid-19: Runny nose, headache, and fatigue are commonest symptoms of Omicron, early data show.
17 Dec, 2021 | 09:48h | UTCSee also: Omicron and cold-like symptoms rapidly taking over in London – ZOE COVID Study
Commentary on Twitter
The UK government has been urged to update its list of symptoms for covid-19, after early data showed cold-like symptoms of a runny nose, headache, fatigue, sneezing, and sore throat were the most commonly reported by people with the new omicron variant https://t.co/n6OJYIDTgf
— The BMJ (@bmj_latest) December 16, 2021
Breakthrough infections generate ‘super immunity’ to COVID-19, study suggests.
17 Dec, 2021 | 09:47h | UTCNews Release: Breakthrough infections generate ‘super immunity’ to COVID-19, study suggests – Oregon Health & Science University
Original Study: Antibody Response and Variant Cross-Neutralization After SARS-CoV-2 Breakthrough Infection – JAMA
Merck’s COVID pill loses its luster: what that means for the pandemic – “Molnupiravir was initially heralded by public-health officials as a game-changer for COVID-19, but full clinical-trial data showed lower-than-expected efficacy”.
16 Dec, 2021 | 09:52h | UTCMerck’s COVID pill loses its lustre: what that means for the pandemic – Nature
Related:
FDA panel narrowly recommends authorization of first antiviral pill to treat COVID.
8 lingering questions about the new Covid pills from Merck and Pfizer.
The U.K. approves Merck’s COVID-19 antiviral pill, calling it a world first.
Merck to allow other nations to produce new COVID-19 antiviral.
Video: Merck’s Covid pill could transform treatment. Here’s how it works.
How antiviral pill Molnupiravir shot ahead in the COVID drug hunt.
What we know — and don’t know — about Merck’s new Covid-19 pill.
Merck’s Covid-19 pill is great news but may not be a game-changer.
Video | A Pill For COVID? A Doctor Explains Molnupiravir.
M-A: Global percentage of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections around 40%.
15 Dec, 2021 | 08:47h | UTCCommentary: ~40 Percent With Confirmed COVID-19 Are Asymptomatic – HealthDay
Risks of myocarditis, pericarditis, and cardiac arrhythmias associated with COVID-19 vaccination vs. SARS-CoV-2 infection.
15 Dec, 2021 | 08:43h | UTCNews release: COVID-19 infection, more likely than vaccines, to cause rare cardiovascular complications – University of Oxford
Commentaries on Twitter
Hugely important work from @JuliaHCox and colleagues:
In people <40, Pfizer carries a much lower risk of myocarditis than either Moderna **or SARS-CoV-2 infection** (annotations added)https://t.co/wqRts3ALqy pic.twitter.com/fnn1T39h1b
— David Juurlink (@DavidJuurlink) December 14, 2021
A case series published in @NatureMedicine shows an increased risk of myocarditis after receiving the Astra-Zeneca-Oxford, Pfizer-BioNTech and the Moderna COVID-19 vaccines, but SARS-CoV-2 infection carried a greater risk of myocarditis. https://t.co/6y7pZlJN70 pic.twitter.com/cBlKz9sUkg
— Nature Portfolio (@NaturePortfolio) December 14, 2021
Just published @NatureMedicine
The most comprehensive assessment of the rare events of myocarditis, pericarditis, arrhythmias after COVID and AZ, mRNA vaccineshttps://t.co/0bEdMJSLXg pic.twitter.com/eC5JOx0CmG— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) December 14, 2021
[Press release – not published yet] Pfizer’s Covid pill remains 89% effective for reducing the risk of hospitalization or death in final analysis.
15 Dec, 2021 | 08:46h | UTCCommentaries:
Pfizer’s Covid pill remains 89% effective in final analysis, company says – STAT
Pfizer confirms COVID pill’s results, potency versus omicron – Associated Press
Related:
8 lingering questions about the new Covid pills from Merck and Pfizer.
Commentary on Twitter (thread – click for more)
@pfizer releases more nirmatrelvir (#Paxlovid) data on #COVID19 final outcomes. Data are consistent, slightly better thant interim analysis. #IDTwitter
▪️ 88% overall hospitalization <=5days
▪️ No deaths in High Risk Trial (EPIC-HR)
▪️ Stopping drug 2.1%https://t.co/1D2LKan7tM— David Boulware, MD MPH (@boulware_dr) December 14, 2021
Rapidly spreading Omicron is now in 77 countries and WHO warns against assuming its effects are mild.
15 Dec, 2021 | 08:39h | UTC
[Not published yet] Initial data from South Africa showed vaccine protection vs. Omicron infection may drop to 30% but does cut severe disease.
15 Dec, 2021 | 08:38h | UTCVaccine protection vs. omicron infection may drop to 30% but does cut severe disease – NPR
See also: South Africa Omicron study finds drop in vaccine protection, fewer hospitalized – CIDRAP
Proposed subtypes of long-Covid and their respective potential therapies.
14 Dec, 2021 | 09:49h | UTCRelated:
EuGMS Guidance: Management of post-acute COVID-19 patients in geriatric rehabilitation.
Addressing Post-COVID Symptoms: A Guide for Primary Care Physicians.
Update to post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection: Caring for the ‘long-haulers’.
Systematic Review: Short-term and long-term rates of postacute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
WHO Consensus: A clinical case definition of post COVID-19 condition (Long Covid).
Characterizing long COVID: a living systematic review.
Long Covid – The illness narratives.
New guidelines to help doctors manage long COVID patients published.
M-A: More than 50 long-term effects of COVID-19. (several articles on the subject)
UK Report on SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern finds significantly lower vaccine effectiveness (VE) against Omicron infection, but a moderate to high VE of 70 to 75% is seen after a third (booster) dose.
13 Dec, 2021 | 09:53h | UTCCommentaries:
Omicron: Three vaccine doses key for protection against variant – BBC
Two jabs offer little protection against Omicron infection, UK data shows – The Guardian
UK Says Omicron to Become Its Dominant Variant Within Days – Associated Press
How to recognize and manage COVID-19-associated coagulopathy.
13 Dec, 2021 | 09:45h | UTCHow to recognize and manage COVID-19-associated coagulopathy – Hematology, ASH Education Program
COVID-19 and thrombosis: searching for evidence.
13 Dec, 2021 | 09:47h | UTCCOVID-19 and thrombosis: searching for evidence – Hematology, ASH Education Program
SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections in vaccinated individuals: measurement, causes and impact.
10 Dec, 2021 | 10:23h | UTC
Commentary on Twitter
SARS-CoV-2 breakthrough infections in vaccinated individuals: measurement, causes and impact https://t.co/dd91AkYmu4 pic.twitter.com/1ByzLeTdlh
— Nature Rev Immunol (@NatRevImmunol) December 7, 2021
Omicron spreads, but severe cases remain low in South Africa.
10 Dec, 2021 | 10:17h | UTCOmicron spreads but severe cases remain low in South Africa – WHO Africa
CDC chief says Omicron is ‘mild’ as early data comes in on US spread of variant.
10 Dec, 2021 | 10:14h | UTCCDC chief says Omicron is ‘mild’ as early data comes in on US spread of variant – The Guardian
Large observational study in Israel showed a third dose (booster) of the Pfizer–BioNTech vaccine had 90% effectiveness at preventing death due to Covid-19 compared to a two-dose regimen.
9 Dec, 2021 | 10:35h | UTCBNT162b2 Vaccine Booster and Mortality Due to Covid-19 – New England Journal of Medicine
Editorial: Booster Doses and Prioritizing Lives Saved