Chest Medicine
WHO Guidance: Antigen-detection in the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
8 Oct, 2021 | 10:47h | UTCAntigen-detection in the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection – World Health Organization
Related infographics:
Use of antigen detection rapid diagnostic testing – World Health Organization
Diagnostic testing for SARS-CoV-2 infection – World Health Organization
Commentary on Twitter (thread – click for more)
Testing remains a critical component to the strategy to end the #COVID19 pandemic, and testing needs to be reliable, accessible, affordable, fast and linked to public health action.
So many around 🌍 have worked hard to increase testing capacities @WHOhttps://t.co/VDPdU0VK4g
— Maria Van Kerkhove (@mvankerkhove) October 7, 2021
WHO Consensus: A clinical case definition of post COVID-19 condition (Long Covid).
8 Oct, 2021 | 10:45h | UTCRelated:
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)
Commentary on Twitter (thread – click for more)
🆕 WHO clinical case definition for post #COVID19 condition, also called 'long COVID' https://t.co/WoiLcwsgJX pic.twitter.com/Z0olrHlWPC
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) October 7, 2021
Real-world data shows increased reactogenicity in adults after heterologous compared to homologous prime-boost COVID-19 vaccination.
8 Oct, 2021 | 10:29h | UTCRelated:
Another study shows increased immune response with heterologous Oxford-AstraZeneca/mRNA vaccination.
RCT: Mixing 2 different Covid vaccines is associated with increased risk of side effects.
Commentary on Twitter
As more & more countries consider adding a 3rd #COVID19 vaccine dose into their national immunisation programmes, vaccine reactogenicity will become important, especially if 3rd dose is different to first 2 doses. We need more mix-n-match booster studies 👉https://t.co/G57i9Ej7Nd
— Shamez Ladhani (@ShamezLadhani) October 7, 2021
Ivermectin: How false science created a Covid ‘miracle’ drug.
8 Oct, 2021 | 10:24h | UTCIvermectin: How false science created a Covid ‘miracle’ drug – BBC
Commentary on Twitter
Scientists evaluating ivermectin data for #COVID19
"had not found 'a single clinical trial' claiming to show that ivermectin prevented Covid deaths that did not contain 'either obvious signs of fabrication or errors so critical they invalidate the study'." https://t.co/Xndr6Q5LaS— Isaac Bogoch (@BogochIsaac) October 7, 2021
Observational study in Qatar showed the effectiveness of Pfizer vaccine against any SARS-CoV-2 infection dropped to 20% in months 5 through 7 after the second dose, but effectiveness against severe Covid-19 remained high.
7 Oct, 2021 | 10:55h | UTC
Commentary on Twitter
In this 900,000-participant study in Qatar, vaccine effectiveness peaked at 77.5% in the first month after the second dose. The effectiveness fell to as low as 20% in months 5 through 7 after vaccination. #Covid19vaccine #IDTwttier https://t.co/TeDcLLftIH pic.twitter.com/pEBoxs6Hmr
— NEJM (@NEJM) October 6, 2021
Opinion | Why Are Americans Still—Still!—Wearing Cloth Masks?
6 Oct, 2021 | 10:04h | UTCWhy Are Americans Still—Still!—Wearing Cloth Masks? – The Atlantic
Related:
Evidence shows that, yes, masks prevent COVID-19 – and surgical masks are the way to go.
[Preprint] Largest study of masks yet details their importance in fighting Covid-19.
Commentary on Twitter
Any mask is better than no mask, especially indoors. But for those who are at higher risk of severe disease or around lots of unvaccinated people, consider upgrading to an N95 (or equivalent) mask, which are more protective. https://t.co/vhNPadTP8O
— Dr. Tom Frieden (@DrTomFrieden) October 5, 2021
EMA recommendations on extra doses and boosters of BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines.
6 Oct, 2021 | 10:15h | UTCComirnaty and Spikevax: EMA recommendations on extra doses and boosters – European Medicines Agency
Related: The difference between COVID-19 ‘third doses’ and ‘boosters’ – Emory News Center
Commentary on Twitter
EMA recommended additional doses and boosters for #Comirnaty and #Spikevax. https://t.co/qefPg2kMMO
In this context, see below what the difference between an additional dose and a #boosterdose is. pic.twitter.com/HeyOACbWXm
— EU Medicines Agency (@EMA_News) October 5, 2021
What we know — and don’t know — about Merck’s new Covid-19 pill.
6 Oct, 2021 | 10:07h | UTCWhat we know — and don’t know — about Merck’s new Covid-19 pill – STAT
Related:
Merck’s Covid-19 pill is great news but may not be a game-changer.
Video | A Pill For COVID? A Doctor Explains Molnupiravir.
RCT: An active strategy for diagnosing pulmonary embolism did not improve outcomes in patients hospitalized for COPD exacerbation.
6 Oct, 2021 | 09:52h | UTCEffect of a Pulmonary Embolism Diagnostic Strategy on Clinical Outcomes in Patients Hospitalized for COPD Exacerbation: A Randomized Clinical Trial – JAMA (free for a limited period)
Commentary on Twitter
Among patients hospitalized for an exacerbation of #COPD, addition of an active diagnostic strategy for pulmonary embolism to usual care compared with usual care alone did not improve a composite set of health outcomes https://t.co/7mOi5lOBD8
— JAMA (@JAMA_current) October 5, 2021
Systematic review: Pretomanid for tuberculosis.
6 Oct, 2021 | 08:51h | UTCPretomanid for tuberculosis: a systematic review – Clinical Microbiology and Infection
Related:
Summary | WHO recommendations on the treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis, 2020 update.
WHO announces updated definitions of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis
Cohort study: Pfizer vaccine effectiveness against any infections declined from 88% during the first month after full vaccination to 47% after 5 months. Vaccine effectiveness against hospital admissions remained high; 87% within 1 month, and 88% at 5 months after full vaccination, with no significant waning.
5 Oct, 2021 | 10:09h | UTCCommentary: Expert reaction to study on Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine effectiveness up to 6 months – Science Media Centre
Commentary on Twitter
Study of 3.4 million people @aboutKP @TheLancet
Vaccine efficacy against infections:
– First month post: 88%
– 5 months post: 47%But vaccine efficacy against hospitalization (Figure):
– First month post: 87%
– 5 months post: 88 %https://t.co/1Gse0FKpoI pic.twitter.com/p9wyiaWGeg— Vincent Rajkumar (@VincentRK) October 4, 2021
RCT: Another study shows convalescent plasma does not improve outcomes in critically ill patients with Covid-19.
5 Oct, 2021 | 10:06h | UTCRelated:
M-A: Convalescent plasma is safe but does not improve outcomes in the treatment of COVID-19.
RECOVERY Trial: No benefit from convalescent plasma in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19.
Video | A Pill For COVID? A Doctor Explains Molnupiravir.
5 Oct, 2021 | 09:57h | UTCA Pill For COVID? | A Doctor Explains Molnupiravir – ZDoggMD
COVID-19 and metabolic disease: mechanisms and clinical management.
5 Oct, 2021 | 10:03h | UTCRelated: Review | Interplay between endocrinology, metabolism, and COVID-19 infection.
Merck’s Covid-19 pill is great news but may not be a game-changer.
5 Oct, 2021 | 09:59h | UTCMerck’s Covid-19 pill is great news but may not be a game-changer – CNN
[Press release – not published yet] Merck announces oral antiviral Molnupiravir reduced the risk of hospitalization or death by approximately 50 Percent compared to placebo for patients with mild or moderate COVID-19.
3 Oct, 2021 | 23:02h | UTCCommentaries:
Expert reaction to interim analysis of oral antiviral molnupiravir – Science Media Centre
Covid antiviral pill can halve risk of hospitalization – BBC
Why Merck’s Covid-19 pill molnupiravir could be so important – Vox
Commentaries on Twitter
.@DrEricDing convinced many that stopping the #molnupiravir trial early for benefit was a good idea
But it was NOT
Large body of evidence suggests that stopping early for benefit biases the results: overestimates the benefits of the treatment #EBM https://t.co/b3tHEtliO0 https://t.co/LwuCgqcY0C pic.twitter.com/vyPWc0nd37
— Kari Tikkinen (@KariTikkinen) October 2, 2021
(thread – click for more)
💡BREAKING—New oral anti-viral drug *molnupiravir* cuts risk of #COVID19 hospitalization and death **in HALF** in a randomized trial. Results so astounding that the trial is being stopped early, and Merck plans to apply for emergency authorization ASAP. 🧵 https://t.co/g8JGNzvuRg pic.twitter.com/K1SwC3QFXS
— Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) October 1, 2021
Vaccine induced immune thrombocytopenia and thrombosis: summary of NICE guidance.
3 Oct, 2021 | 22:59h | UTCVaccine induced immune thrombocytopenia and thrombosis: summary of NICE guidance – The BMJ
Original Guidance: NICE COVID-19 rapid guideline: vaccine-induced immune thrombocytopenia and thrombosis.
Related:
Clinical features of vaccine-induced immune thrombocytopenia and thrombosis.
Vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia: what we know and do not know.
Very rare cases of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) after AstraZeneca vaccine: a global safety database analysis – the estimated rate of TTS after the first dose was 8.1 per million vaccinees; after the second dose, the estimated rate was 2.3 per million vaccinees. (several articles and resources on the subject)
Will the pandemic fade into an ordinary disease like the flu? The world is watching Denmark for clues.
3 Oct, 2021 | 22:58h | UTC
Editorial | Covid-19 vaccination: evidence of waning immunity is overstated.
3 Oct, 2021 | 22:49h | UTCCovid-19 vaccination: evidence of waning immunity is overstated – The BMJ
Related:
COVID vaccine effects wane over time but still prevent death and severe illness.
Perspective | What we actually know about waning immunity.
Another study shows Pfizer mRNA vaccine immunity is reduced over time.
Studies: COVID vaccine protection waning against infection but not hospitalization.
Pfizer says it’s time for a Covid booster; FDA and CDC say not so fast.
Systematic Review: Does testing for cancer in people with unprovoked blood clots in the legs and lungs reduce cancer- and blood clot-related death and illness?
3 Oct, 2021 | 22:33h | UTCOriginal article: Effect of testing for cancer on cancer‐ or venous thromboembolism (VTE)‐related mortality and morbidity in people with unprovoked VTE – Cochrane Library
International registry shows mortality after ECMO for patients with COVID-19 worsened during 2020.
1 Oct, 2021 | 10:43h | UTCCommentaries:
ECMO in COVID-19: do not blame the tool – The Lancet
Commentary on Twitter (thread – click for more)
New study indicates mortality after ECMO for patients with #COVID19 worsened during 2020, and duration of ECMO support increased.
Continued surveillance of ECMO outcomes in #COVID19 is needed, authors suggest: https://t.co/9Yq7lYkVIC
(1/2) @ELSOOrg pic.twitter.com/Rcz1TZ7eGG
— The Lancet (@TheLancet) September 30, 2021
Transition to endemicity: Understanding COVID-19.
1 Oct, 2021 | 10:30h | UTCTransition to endemicity: Understanding COVID-19 – Cell
Related:
COVID will likely shift from pandemic to endemic — but what does that mean?
Another meta-analysis suggests standard-dose prophylactic anticoagulation is the best option for patients hospitalized with Covid-19.
1 Oct, 2021 | 10:35h | UTC
Review: COVID-19 in older adults.
1 Oct, 2021 | 10:27h | UTCCOVID-19 in older adults – Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine
RCT: REGEN-COV antibody combination reduces hospitalizations in outpatients with Covid-19.
30 Sep, 2021 | 10:33h | UTC