COVID-19 LITERATURE SITUATION REPORT DEC. 14, 2020

A meta-analysis of 54 studies including 77,758 participants estimated an overall household secondary transmission rate of SARS-CoV-2 of 17% (95% CI 14%-19%). The rate was higher from symptomatic index cases than from asymptomatic index cases (18% vs. 1%), to adult contacts than to child contacts (28% vs. 17%), to spouses than to other family contacts (38% vs. 18%), and in households with 1 contact than in households with 3 or more contacts (42% vs. 23%). The authors suggest that households will continue to be important venues for transmission as individuals with suspected or confirmed infections are instructed to isolate at home.

Madewell et al. (Dec 14, 2020). Household Transmission of SARS-CoV-2: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. JAMA Network Open. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.31756

An environmental modeling study of respiratory emissions reported a very low probability of airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 (< 1 RNA copy/m³) through respiratory aerosol in outdoor public areas using the environmental characteristics of the cities Milan and Bergamo in northern Italy. 

Belosi et al. (Dec 8, 2020). On the Concentration of SARS-CoV-2 in Outdoor Air and the Interaction with Pre-Existing Atmospheric Particles. Environmental Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2020.110603

• In a study evaluating ten enzyme immunoassays and three lateral flow chromatography assays, seven immunoassays were shown to have excellent specificity (98 to 100%) and good to excellent positive predictive values (82 to 100%) when used in a low (5%) seroprevalence setting. Sensitivity values as low as 74% and as high as 95% at ≥15 days post symptom onset were observed.

Therrien et al. (Dec 10, 2020). Multicenter Evaluation of the Clinical Performance and the Neutralizing Antibody Activity Prediction Properties of ten high throughput serological assays used in Clinical Laboratories. Journal of Clinical Microbiology.

https://doi.org/10.1128/JCM.02511-20

• A systematic review and meta-analysis found inconclusive results on the efficacy of remdesivir for treating patients with COVID-19 due to the lack of adequately powered and fully reported randomized trials evaluating efficacy and harms of its use in adult hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

Piscoya et al. (Dec 10, 2020). Efficacy and harms of remdesivir for the treatment of COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0243705

• Estimates of seroprevalence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 among residents of metropolitan Atlanta during April-May 2020 ranged from 4.9% to 3.2%. These estimates were based on antibody tests conducted on residual sera from commercial laboratory samples (4.9% seroprevalence) and a community household survey (3.2% seroprevalence). Compared with more representative surveys, the authors conclude that that commercial sera can provide an approximate measure of seroprevalence.

Bajema et al. (Dec 10, 2020). Comparison of Estimated SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence through Commercial Laboratory Residual Sera Testing and a Community Survey. Clinical Infectious Diseases. https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciaa1804

• A systematic review of 34 studies (12,057 patients) on detection of SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR assays at first use estimated a false-negative rate of 13% (95% CI 9% to 19%), though identified substantial heterogeneity between studies, which ranged in their individual estimates from 1.8% to 58%. The authors were unable to investigate most potential sources of heterogeneity due to data limitations. Only 9 studies reported the interval between symptom onset and testing.

Arevalo-Rodriguez et al. (Dec 10, 2020). False-negative results of initial RT-PCR assays for COVID-19: A systematic review. PLOS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0242958

• A retrospective study of all children presenting to the Texas Children’s Hospital system who were tested for SARS-CoV-2 (16,554 unique patients), found that 1,215 (7%) patients tested positive, among whom 66% were Hispanic (representing 42% of the total number tested). Most children with detection of SARS-CoV-2 had uncomplicated illness courses, but 8% of children were hospitalized, most of whom had underlying medical conditions, and two patients died.

Foster et al. (Dec 10, 2020). A Surge in Pediatric Coronavirus Disease 2019 Cases: The Experience of Texas Children’s Hospital from March to June 2020. Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society. https://doi.org/10.1093/jpids/piaa164

• A large cohort study (n=64,781) of patients with COVID-19 treated in 592 US hospitals during April and May 2020 found that the in-hospital mortality rate was 20.3%. Use of statin medications, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and calcium channel blockers were associated with decreased odds of mortality. The combination use of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin was associated with increased odds of mortality.

Rosenthal et al. (Dec 10, 2020). Risk Factors Associated With In-Hospital Mortality in a US National Sample of Patients With COVID-19. JAMA Network Open. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.29058

• A case-control analysis of electronic medical records from 73.4 million unique patients found that patients with a recent diagnosis of cancer were at significantly increased risk for COVID-19 infection and its adverse outcomes, especially among African Americans.

Wang et al. (Dec 10, 2020). Analyses of Risk, Racial Disparity, and Outcomes Among US Patients With Cancer and COVID-19 Infection. JAMA Oncology. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaoncol.2020.6178

• [Pre-print, not peer reviewed] In a systematic review examining the intention of healthcare workers (HCW) to accept COVID-19 vaccination (11 studies, 8,847 HCWs), the overall proportion of HCWs that intend to accept COVID-19 vaccination was 56% (95% CI 44-68%) with a wide range among studies from 28% to 82%. Factors associated with increased HCW willingness to get vaccinated against COVID-19 included male gender, older age, physician profession, comorbidity, seasonal influenza vaccination, stronger vaccine confidence, individual perceived risk about COVID-19, and contact with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients. The studies were conducted among HCW in Europe (5 studies), Asia (3 studies), Africa (2 studies), and North America (1 study) between February and October 2020.

Galanis et al. (Dec 11, 2020). Intention of health care workers to accept COVID-19 vaccination and related factors: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Pre-print downloaded Dec 11 from

https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.12.08.20246041

• A modeling study assessing the global impact of travel restrictions due to COVID-19 finds the restrictions are effective primarily in countries with low numbers of cases or that have strong travel links with countries experiencing high rates of infection. The authors suggest that strict untargeted travel restrictions are probably unjustified in many countries, other than those that have both high levels of international travel connections and very low local COVID-19 incidence.

Russell et al. (Dec 07, 2020). Effect of internationally imported cases on internal spread of COVID-19: a mathematical modelling study. The Lancet Public Health. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(20)30263-2