Here is what the editors at Physician’s Briefing chose as the most important COVID-19 developments for you and your practice for the week of April 6 to 10, 2020. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal studies and other trusted sources that is most likely to affect clinical practice.
FDA Approves New Way to Decontaminate N95 Face Masks
FRIDAY, April 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The second emergency use authorization to decontaminate N95 face masks and equivalents for reuse by hospital health care workers has been issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Temperature, UV Radiation Not Linked to Incidence of COVID-19
FRIDAY, April 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Ambient temperature and ultraviolet (UV) radiation are not associated with the cumulative incidence rate or basic reproduction number (R0) of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), according to a research letter published online April 8 in the European Respiratory Journal.
Neurologic Effects Seen in a Third of Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients
FRIDAY, April 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Neurologic manifestations are common among hospitalized patients with COVID-19, according to a study published online April 10 in JAMA Neurology.
Contact Tracing ID’d Large Multifamily COVID-19 Cluster in Chicago
FRIDAY, April 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — One index patient with COVID-19 and only mild symptoms attended two family gatherings and likely triggered a chain of transmission that included 15 other confirmed and probable cases with three deaths, according to research published in the April 8 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Doctors Report on Four COVID-19 Infections in Newborns in China
FRIDAY, April 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Compared with adults, symptoms of COVID-19 in newborn babies are milder and outcomes are less severe, according to a research letter published online April 8 in the European Respiratory Journal.
Current Models for COVID-19 Diagnosis, Prognosis Unreliable
FRIDAY, April 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Novel coronavirus-related models that are published in the literature are poorly reported and at high risk for bias, raising concern that their predictions could be unreliable when applied in daily practice, according to a review published online April 7 in The BMJ.
Face Masks Offer Slight Protective Effect From Flu-Like Illness
FRIDAY, April 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Wearing face masks could be slightly protective against primary infection with influenza-like illness from casual community contact, according to a review that has not yet been peer reviewed and was posted online April 6 at medRxiv.org.
Anxiety Up for Nonmedical Health Care Workers Versus Those on Front Lines
FRIDAY, April 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Non-medically trained health care workers caring for patients with coronavirus disease 2019 have an increased prevalence of anxiety compared with medically trained health care workers, according to a research letter published online April 6 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Clinical Trial Underway to Test Nitric Oxide in COVID-19 Patients
THURSDAY, April 9, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Doctors at the University of Alabama at Birmingham are enrolling patients in an international clinical trial to find out if inhaled nitric oxide benefits those with novel coronavirus who have severely damaged lungs.
COVID-19 Came to New York City From Europe, Not Asia
THURSDAY, April 9, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The novel coronavirus has been circulating in New York City for longer than previously believed and most cases can be traced back to Europe, new research reveals.
NIH Launches Clinical Trial of Hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19
THURSDAY, April 9, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A clinical trial to assess the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for adults with the novel coronavirus is now underway, the U.S. National Institutes of Health said Thursday.
FDA Warns of False Claims That Chlorine Dioxide Can Treat COVID-19
THURSDAY, April 9, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A warning letter has been sent to a company marketing fraudulent and dangerous chlorine dioxide products for the prevention and treatment of the novel coronavirus, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says.
Another COVID-19 Vaccine Trial Begins in the United States
THURSDAY, April 9, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Another clinical trial of an experimental vaccine for the novel coronavirus 2019 has been launched by U.S. researchers.
Older Adults, Men, Preexisting Conditions Tied to COVID-19 Death
THURSDAY, April 9, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Researchers have identified the most common clinical characteristics among 109 patients out of 1,017 with confirmed novel coronavirus pneumonia who died of COVID-19-related pneumonia in Wuhan, China; their findings were published online April 7 in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society.
Convalescent Plasma Treatment Promising in Severe COVID-19
THURSDAY, April 9, 2020 (HealthDay News) — One dose of convalescent plasma therapy is well tolerated and can potentially improve clinical symptoms in severe cases with coronavirus disease 2019, according to a study published online April 6 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
ATS Provides Interim Guidance for Management of COVID-19
THURSDAY, April 9, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In a guidance document issued by the American Thoracic Society, interim recommendations are presented for management of coronavirus disease 2019.
HHS Report Looks at Hospital Experiences With COVID-19
THURSDAY, April 9, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A report issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General provides a national snapshot of hospital experiences in response to the coronavirus disease 2019.
CDC Removes Prescribing Guidelines for Antimalarial Drugs
WEDNESDAY, April 8, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Guidelines for doctors on how to prescribe two antimalarial drugs that some believe may treat the novel coronavirus are no longer available on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
COVID-19 Killing Two Times More Men Than Women in NYC
WEDNESDAY, April 8, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The novel coronavirus death rate in New York City is two times higher among men than among women, and men also have higher rates of infection and hospitalization, new data show.
Children With COVID-19 Do Not Always Have Cough, Fever
WEDNESDAY, April 8, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Children with coronavirus disease 2019 have symptoms of fever, cough, or shortness of breath less often than adults with the disease, according to research published in the April 6 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Surgical, Cotton Masks Not Effective for Filtering SARS-CoV-2
WEDNESDAY, April 8, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, neither surgical nor cotton masks effectively filter SARS-CoV-2 during coughs, according to a research letter published online April 6 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Guidelines Developed for COVID-19 Patients in ICU
WEDNESDAY, April 8, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In guidelines issued by the international Surviving Sepsis Campaign initiative, published in Critical Care Medicine and Intensive Care Medicine, recommendations are presented for the management of novel coronavirus disease 2019 patients in the intensive care unit.
Children Have Milder Disease Course, Better COVID-19 Prognosis
WEDNESDAY, April 8, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Children diagnosed with COVID-19 have a milder disease course and better prognoses than adults, according to a review published online March 23 in Acta Paediatrica.
Side Effects Seen With Use of Chloroquine Against COVID-19
TUESDAY, April 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The use of the antimalarial drug chloroquine to treat COVID-19 patients has been halted at several Swedish hospitals due to reported side effects such as cramps and loss of peripheral vision. Sahlgrenska University Hospital is one of those facilities. It stopped the use of chloroquine in the treatment of COVID-19 about two weeks ago.
Serious Concerns Associated With COVID-19 Pandemic Reported
TUESDAY, April 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Serious concerns are associated with coronavirus disease 2019, and many individuals are preparing by washing hands and self-isolating, according to a research letter published online April 7 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Compliance Higher if Stay-at-Home Extensions Are Shorter Than Thought
TUESDAY, April 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) — When hypothetical stay-at-home orders in response to COVID-19 are extended longer than expected, people become less willing to increase self-isolation efforts, according to a working paper released by the National Bureau of Economic Research.
Most COVID-19 Fatalities Are Men Over 50 With Chronic Disease
TUESDAY, April 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Most fatal cases of coronavirus disease 2019 occur in men aged older than 50 years with noncommunicable chronic diseases, according to a study published online April 3 in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
Recommendations Issued for GI Procedures During COVID-19
TUESDAY, April 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In a document issued by the American Gastroenterological Association, published online April 1 in Gastroenterology, recommendations are presented for gastrointestinal procedures during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
School Closures Could Further Complicate COVID-19 Effort
TUESDAY, April 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Potential contagion prevention from school closures needs to be weighed against the potential loss of health care workers due to child care obligations during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, according to a study published online April 3 in The Lancet Public Health.
No Treatment Change Needed for Peds IBD During COVID-19 Pandemic
TUESDAY, April 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Preliminary data regarding outcomes for pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease during the coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak are reassuring, according to research published online March 31 in the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition.
Radiotherapy for Prostate Cancer Adjusted During COVID-19
TUESDAY, April 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In a special article published online April 1 in Advances in Radiation Oncology, a framework is laid out for the management of radiotherapy for prostate cancer patients during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
FDA Authorizes Use of Chinese-Approved Masks in United States
MONDAY, April 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Emergency use authorization of protective masks that do not meet American standards has been announced by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Majority of Physicians Report Serious Concerns About COVID-19
MONDAY, April 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — According to a national survey conducted by Harvard Medical School, the RAND Corporation, and Doximity, practicing physicians currently report substantial concerns about supplies, the government response, and availability of testing amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Social Distancing Minimizes COVID-19 Spread in Assisted Living
MONDAY, April 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Early implementation of social distancing and preventive measures after identification of coronavirus disease 2019 can minimize virus spread in senior independent and assisted living communities, according to research published in the April 3 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Sentinel Surveillance Can Help Monitor Epidemiology of COVID-19
MONDAY, April 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Rapid sentinel surveillance can help monitor the epidemiology of coronavirus disease 2019, according to research published in the April 3 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Hydroxychloroquine Can Shorten Time to Recovery in COVID-19
MONDAY, April 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Hydroxychloroquine can shorten time to clinical recovery and promote pneumonia absorption among patients with coronavirus disease 2019, according to a study that has not yet been peer reviewed and was posted online March 31 at medRxiv.org.
Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Might Aid in Severe COVID-19
MONDAY, April 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support might improve clinical outcomes in severe cases of coronavirus disease 2019 that cannot be adequately managed with mechanical ventilation alone, according to research published online March 30 in the ASAIO Journal.
Comorbidity, Age, Time to Treatment Linked to COVID-19 Progression
MONDAY, April 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Factors associated with coronavirus disease 2019 progression include comorbidity, age, and time from illness onset to antiviral treatment, according to a study published online March 27 in the Journal of Internal Medicine.
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