Article Summary
September 28, 2020
Mass Screening of Asymptomatic Persons for SARS-CoV-2 Using Saliva
A study that conducted mass screening for SARS-CoV-2 among two cohorts of asymptomatic persons in Japan, a contact tracing cohort (n=161) and an airport quarantine cohort (n=1,763), reported the overall sensitivity of RT-PCR testing with nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs was 86% and saliva samples was 92%, with specificity for both samples >99.9%. Due to the lack…
Humoral Response and PCR Positivity in Patients with COVID-19 in the New York City Region, USA: An Observational Study
A cross-sectional study in the New York City region reported that 99.5% patients with PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection (n=624) and 37% patients with suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection (n=719) showed evidence of seroconversion with anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike antibodies detected 4 weeks after the illness. PCR positivity was detected up to 28 days from symptom resolution. Wajnberg et al. (Sept…
Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in a Large Nationwide Sample of Patients on Dialysis in the USA: A Cross-Sectional Study
In a large sample of US adults who received dialysis (n=28,503), the seroprevalence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 was 8.0%, ranging from 3.5% in the west to 27.2% in the northeast. Seropositivity was higher in neighborhoods with predominantly non-Hispanic Black (OR=3.9) and Hispanic (OR=2.3) residents (vs white) and neighborhoods in the highest population density quintile (OR=10.3)…
Speech Can Produce Jet-like Transport Relevant to Asymptomatic Spreading of Virus
The act of speaking, particularly during a conversation, can create air currents that can transport exhaled breath in a directed pattern out to 2 meters (6 feet), and potentially further, during a 30 second conversation. Abkarian et al. (Sept 25, 2020). Speech Can Produce Jet-like Transport Relevant to Asymptomatic Spreading of Virus. Proceedings of the…
September 25, 2020
Modeling between-population variation in COVID-19 dynamics in Hubei, Lombardy, and New York City
A mathematical model suggests that targeted sheltering of specific age groups combined with adherence to physical distancing by the rest of the population may be sufficient to thwart a substantial fraction of infections and deaths. Physical distancing could be achieved by engaging in activities such as staggered work schedules, increasing spacing in restaurants and prescribing…
Quantifying the impact of quarantine duration on COVID-19 transmission
[Pre-print, not peer reviewed] In a modeling study, quarantining an infected traced contact for 10 days was estimated to prevent 75-99% of their onward transmission. In the scenario of a contact being infected on a return flight, a 10 day quarantine was estimated to prevent 99% of onward transmission. Ashcroft et al. (Sept 25, 2020)….
Early predictors of in-hospital mortality in patients with COVID-19 in a large American cohort
Clinical variables present on admission that were associated with in-hospital death among COVID-19 patients were older age, low oxygen saturation and elevated respiratory rate in a multicenter study. Laboratory measurements associated with in-hospital mortality included markers of renal and hepatic dysfunction and elevated procalcitonin and lactic acid. Bahl et al. (Sept 25, 2020). Early predictors…
Update: Characteristics of Health Care Personnel with COVID-19 — United States, February 12–July 16, 2020
Risk factors for mortality in health care personnel with COVID-19 were older age, male sex, Asian or Black self-identification, or the presence of an underlying comorbidity. Data from 100,570 laboratory confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases reported to CDC (February 12 – July 16, 2020) demonstrate that the median age of infected healthcare workers was 41…
Safety and immunogenicity of the Ad26.COV2.S COVID-19 vaccine candidate: interim results of a phase 1/2a, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial
[Pre-print, not peer reviewed] A one-dose vaccine candidate was shown to have an acceptable safety profile and demonstrated immunogenicity. These results come from a multi-center phase 1/2a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical study of the Ad26.COV2.S vaccine candidate. The vaccine platform utilizes Janssen Pharmaceutical’s replication incompetent adenovirus serotype 26 (Ad26) 54 vector and includes a stabilized…
Efficacy of corticosteroid treatment for hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19: a multicenter study
Corticosteroid treatment of COVID-19 patients was not statistically significantly associated with lower mortality across all patients with COVID-19, but there was significantly lower mortality among the sub-group of patients with severe respiratory failure. A multicenter observational study (February 22 to June 30, 2020) found that 170 of 513 COVID-19 patients were treated with corticosteroids, and…
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