Chest Medicine
Opinion | The case for mandating COVID-19 vaccines for health care workers.
14 Jul, 2021 | 11:22h | UTCThe Case for Mandating COVID-19 Vaccines for Health Care Workers – Annals of Internal Medicine
News release: Case is strong for mandating COVID-19 vaccination for health care workers – American College of Physicians
Commentary on Twitter
The Case for Mandating COVID-19 Vaccines for Health Care Workers https://t.co/pdaBRZdkfG via @AnnalsofIM "The case for mandating SARS-CoV-2 vaccines for health care workers is substantially stronger than the case was for mandating influenza vaccines." I fully agree.
— Kenny Lin, MD, MPH (@kennylinafp) July 12, 2021
RCT: Neither Remdesivir nor Hydroxychloroquine affect viral clearance in hospitalized patients with COVID-19.
14 Jul, 2021 | 11:23h | UTCNews release: Neither remdesivir nor HCQ affect viral clearance in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 – American College of Physicians
Original Study: Evaluation of the Effects of Remdesivir and Hydroxychloroquine on Viral Clearance in COVID-19 – Annals of Internal Medicine
Commentary on Twitter
Newly published research in Annals concludes neither remdesivir nor #hydroxychloroquine affected viral clearance in hospitalized patients with #COVID19 https://t.co/K3qWLUW8uY. pic.twitter.com/ugbjJJ3qI5
— Annals of Int Med (@AnnalsofIM) July 12, 2021
Cohort study: Pfizer/BioNTech COVID vaccine associated with 78% lower risk of Covid-19 in pregnancy.
14 Jul, 2021 | 11:20h | UTCBetween BNT162b2 Vaccination and Incidence of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Pregnant Women – JAMA
Commentary: Pfizer COVID vaccine shows 78% efficacy in pregnancy – CIDRAP
Real-World Evidence: The low validity of temperature screening for COVID-19 triage.
14 Jul, 2021 | 11:11h | UTC
Commentary on Twitter
Temperature screening with infrared thermometers has a sensitivity of 9.43% for PCR+ COVID. https://t.co/GjaKpkUqwU
— Carlos del Rio (@CarlosdelRio7) July 7, 2021
One COVID vaccine dose yields good protection in elderly, 2 studies find.
14 Jul, 2021 | 11:15h | UTCOne COVID vaccine dose yields good protection in elderly, 2 studies find – CIDRAP
Commentary on Twitter (thread – click for more)
2 research Articles on #COVID19 vaccine effectiveness in older people:
1) Effectiveness of BNT162b2 and ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 COVID-19 vaccination at preventing hospitalisations in people aged at least 80 years: a test-negative, case-control study https://t.co/ELvMCPwSHF— The Lancet Infectious Diseases (@TheLancetInfDis) June 24, 2021
German national treatment guidance for hospitalized COVID-19 patients.
13 Jul, 2021 | 10:02h | UTC
Long Covid: 39% of patients report persistent symptoms more than seven months after diagnosis of COVID-19 in an outpatient setting.
13 Jul, 2021 | 09:57h | UTCCommentaries: Long COVID symptoms in a third of people with COVID-19 – American College of Physicians AND Covid-19: 1-in-3 Patients Reported Long-Hauler Symptoms – Physician’s Weekly
Commentary on Twitter
A new prospective cohort study of >400 people with mild to moderate (outpatient) covid at 7-9 months: nearly 1 of 3 had persistent symptoms #LongCovid @AnnalsofIM
https://t.co/ix1Hhsm0iZ
by @mayssamnehme and colleagues pic.twitter.com/Uc4UEclDvA— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) July 5, 2021
WHO warns against mixing and matching COVID vaccines.
13 Jul, 2021 | 09:53h | UTCWHO warns against mixing and matching COVID vaccines – Reuters
Commentary: WHO cautions data still limited on mixing COVID-19 vaccines, but Canadian officials say it’s OK – CTV News
Related: Germany issues world’s strongest recommendation for mixing Covid-19 vaccines. AND [Preprint] Mixing Covid jabs has good immune response, study finds – “The Com-Cov trial looked at the efficacy of either two doses of Pfizer, two of AstraZeneca, or one of them followed by the other. All combinations worked well, priming the immune system”. AND Perspective | Can I get AstraZeneca now and Pfizer later? Why mixing and matching COVID vaccines could help solve many rollout problems. AND RCT: Mixing 2 different Covid vaccines is associated with increased risk of side effects. AND Should you mix and match COVID-19 vaccines? Scientists are seeking answers
Commentary on Twitter
The World Health Organization's chief scientist on Monday advised against people mixing and matching COVID-19 vaccines from different manufacturers, calling it a "dangerous trend" since there was little data available about the health impact. https://t.co/Oog6fWDSMz
— Reuters Health (@Reuters_Health) July 13, 2021
[Preprint] Long Covid: Persistent symptoms following SARS-CoV-2 infection in a random community sample of 508,707 people.
13 Jul, 2021 | 09:55h | UTCCommentary: Study explores the prevalence of long COVID in England – News Medical
M-A: Similar mortality with Fluoroquinolones or Macrolides for the treatment of Legionella Pneumonia.
13 Jul, 2021 | 09:18h | UTCAre Fluoroquinolones or Macrolides Better for Treating Legionella Pneumonia? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis – Clinical Infectious Diseases (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
[Preprint] Heparin for Moderately Ill Patients with Covid-19 – “In moderately ill ward patients with Covid-19 and elevated D-dimer level, therapeutic heparin did not significantly reduce the primary outcome but decreased the odds of death at 28 days”.
12 Jul, 2021 | 03:14h | UTCHeparin for Moderately Ill Patients with Covid-19 – medRxiv
Related: RCT: In patients hospitalized with Covid-19 with elevated D-Dimer, a full-dose anticoagulation strategy based on rivaroxaban (full-dose heparins in unstable patients) + rivaroxaban to day 30 was not better than prophylactic anticoagulation and increased bleeding risk. AND [Preprint] Practice Changing RCT: Therapeutic-dose anticoagulation with heparin (LMWH or unfractionated heparin) improves outcomes in non-critically ill patients with Covid-19 – the superiority of therapeutic-dose anticoagulation was seen in both high and low D-dimer groups. AND [Preprint] RCT: Full-dose/therapeutic anticoagulation provides no benefit in critically ill patients with Covid-19
Commentary on Twitter (thread – click for more)
🚨Final results of the RAPID trial now pub'd @medrxivpreprint 🚨 RAPID was an open-label trial that randomly assigned hospitalized ward patients with COVID-19 and elevated D-dimer levels to therapeutic or prophylactic heparin. 🧵 1/10 https://t.co/oxiyXQAPeK pic.twitter.com/V2GtruEyM2
— Michelle Sholzberg (@sholzberg) July 9, 2021
RCT: Another study shows Azithromycin does not improve outcomes in patients with Covid-19.
12 Jul, 2021 | 03:09h | UTCCommentaries: Trial shows that the antibiotic azithromycin does not prevent mild COVID cases progressing to hospitalization, death – European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases AND Azithromycin: can its benefit be ruled out in mild COVID-19? – The Lancet Respiratory Medicine
Related: M-A: Azithromycin does not reduce the need for invasive mechanical ventilation or mortality in patients with Covid-19. AND RCT: Azithromycin provides no benefit for community treatment of patients with suspected COVID-19 AND RECOVERY trial: Azithromycin not beneficial for patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 AND [Press release – not published yet] Azithromycin and doxycycline are not generally effective against COVID-19 in patients treated at home, shows PRINCIPLE trial AND Coalition Covid-19 Brazil – Randomized trial: Azithromycin not beneficial for patients admitted to the hospital with severe Covid-19 AND Coalition Covid-19 Brazil – Randomized trial: hydroxychloroquine with or without azithromycin in mild-to-moderate Covid-19
Commentary on Twitter
In patients with mild-to-mod #COVID19 managed without hospital admission, azithromycin + SOC did not reduce the risk of subsequent hospital admission or death
Read the ATOMIC2 trial here https://t.co/QXJ7T08JZS, being presented at #ECCMID2021 by lead author Tim Hinks @HinksLab pic.twitter.com/ZDiPhuQqFB
— The Lancet Respiratory Medicine (@LancetRespirMed) July 9, 2021
A correlate of protection for SARS-CoV-2 vaccines is urgently needed – “Recent studies suggest that neutralizing antibodies could serve as a correlate of protection for vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 in humans”.
12 Jul, 2021 | 03:03h | UTCA correlate of protection for SARS-CoV-2 vaccines is urgently needed – Nature Medicine
Pfizer says it’s time for a Covid booster; FDA and CDC say not so fast.
12 Jul, 2021 | 03:08h | UTCPfizer says it’s time for a Covid booster; FDA and CDC say not so fast – CNN
See also: CDC, FDA contradict Pfizer on COVID-19 vaccine booster – CIDRAP AND Do I need a COVID-19 booster shot? 6 questions answered on how to stay protected – The Conversation AND Pfizer suggests booster shots will be needed this year, but government officials say science will dictate the timing – The Washington Post AND Pfizer to seek OK for 3rd vaccine dose; shots still protect – Associated Press AND Citing the Delta Variant, Pfizer Will Pursue Booster Shots and a New Vaccine – The New York Times (a few articles per month are free) AND Question open on need for COVID booster shot, data awaited, WHO says – Reuters
Understanding the Host in the Management of Pneumonia. An Official American Thoracic Society Workshop Report.
12 Jul, 2021 | 01:41h | UTC
RCT: CoronaVac showed efficacy of 83.5% for preventing symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection.
9 Jul, 2021 | 10:22h | UTCInvited commentary: CoronaVac: more data for regulators and policy makers
Commentary on Twitter
NEW—Interim analysis from phase 3 trial suggests efficacy of 2 doses of #CoronaVac is 83.5% against symptomatic #COVID19. More research is needed to confirm efficacy in the long term, in a more diverse group, and against emerging #variants of concern.
🔗 https://t.co/TN5b6wwclc pic.twitter.com/4zOvJFIIOH
— The Lancet (@TheLancet) July 8, 2021
Reduced sensitivity of SARS-CoV-2 variant Delta to antibody neutralization.
9 Jul, 2021 | 10:16h | UTCReduced sensitivity of SARS-CoV-2 variant Delta to antibody neutralization – Nature
Commentaries: Study highlights need for full Covid vaccination to protect against Delta variant – STAT AND How does the Delta variant dodge the immune system? Scientists find clues. – The New York Times
Commentary on Twitter (thread – click for more)
Just published @Nature
Delta variant protection by mRNA and AZ vaccines requires 2-doses, little neutralizing antibody (nAb) with 1-dose, and insufficient nAb with prior covidhttps://t.co/TOgJdMe0g6 pic.twitter.com/KWLb9rBZ44— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) July 8, 2021
CDC: Use of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine after reports of myocarditis among vaccine recipients – “Continued use of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines in all recommended age groups will prevent morbidity and mortality from COVID-19 that far exceed the number of cases of myocarditis expected”.
9 Jul, 2021 | 10:17h | UTC
Commentary on Twitter
In a new @CDCMMWR, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends everyone 12 & older get a #COVID19 vaccine. The benefits of vaccination in preventing illness & death outweigh the rare risk of heart inflammation after vaccination. More: https://t.co/iPjbhU5jeV. pic.twitter.com/IggrZ4DX7L
— CDC (@CDCgov) July 6, 2021
After the pandemic: perspectives on the future trajectory of COVID-19.
9 Jul, 2021 | 10:18h | UTCAfter the pandemic: perspectives on the future trajectory of COVID-19 – Nature
Will COVID become a disease of the young? – “A growing share of infections among unvaccinated youths in countries with high vaccination rates is putting the spotlight on the role of young people in the pandemic”.
9 Jul, 2021 | 10:14h | UTCWill COVID become a disease of the young? – Nature
2021 ACR Guideline for the Management of ANCA–Associated Vasculitis.
9 Jul, 2021 | 10:09h | UTC
Case series: therapeutic plasma exchange in 3 patients with vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia.
8 Jul, 2021 | 09:17h | UTC
Commentary on Twitter
Three patients with severe manifestations of VITT after #COVID19 vaccination had poor response to initial therapy with anticoagulants and intravenous immune globulin. Their condition improved after therapeutic plasma exchange was initiated.
— NEJM (@NEJM) July 7, 2021
Prospective national cohort in Chile showed CoronaVac effectiveness was 65.9% for symptomatic Covid-19, 87.5% for hospitalization, 90.3% for ICU admission, and 86.3% for death.
8 Jul, 2021 | 09:22h | UTCEffectiveness of an Inactivated SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine in Chile – New England Journal of Medicine
Related: Phase 1/2 RCT: CoronaVac is well tolerated and safe and induces strong humoral responses in children and adolescents aged 3–17 years. AND WHO approval of Chinese CoronaVac COVID vaccine will be crucial to curbing pandemic. AND Brazilian town experiment shows mass vaccination can wipe out COVID-19.
Commentary on Twitter
https://twitter.com/hildabast/status/1412890823948079105
Mounting evidence suggests Sputnik COVID vaccine is safe and effective.
8 Jul, 2021 | 09:14h | UTCMounting evidence suggests Sputnik COVID vaccine is safe and effective – Nature
Perspective | Should People With Immune Problems Get Third Vaccine Doses?
8 Jul, 2021 | 09:07h | UTCShould People With Immune Problems Get Third Vaccine Doses? – The New York Times (a few articles per month are free)
Related: [Preprint] 3rd AstraZeneca shot gives strong immunity. AND Case series: Safety and immunogenicity of a third dose of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in solid organ transplant recipients.