Result for
Topic: Testing and Treatment
October 19, 2020
Hydroxychloroquine as Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis for COVID-19 in Healthcare Workers: A Randomized Trial
Pre-exposure prophylaxis with hydroxychloroquine once or twice weekly did not significantly reduce COVID-19 or COVID-19-compatible illness among healthcare workers with ongoing exposure to people with SARS-CoV-2. The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of healthcare workers in the US and Canada found that for once weekly hydroxychloroquine prophylaxis, the hazard ratio for COVID-19 was 0.72 (95%CI…
October 16, 2020
Repurposed Antiviral Drugs for COVID-19 Interim WHO SOLIDARITY Trial Results
[Pre-print, not peer reviewed] Interim results for the original four drugs in the WHO Solidarity trial indicated that remdesivir, hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir/ritonavir and interferon regimens did not appear to reduce mortality, initiation of ventilation, or duration of hospital stay. Out of 11,266 adults in 30 countries who were randomized, 1,253 deaths were reported. Kaplan-Meier analysis of…
Capillary Whole-Blood IgG-IgM COVID-19 Self-Test as a Serological Screening Tool for SARS-CoV-2 Infection Adapted to the General Public
Observations from a cross-sectional, general adult population pilot study in France indicated high practicability and satisfaction of SARS-CoV-2 IgG-IgM self-testing using the Exacto COVID-19 self-test. The study used a variety of questionnaires to determine if participants could both use the test and interpret its results correctly. All 167 participants correctly used the self-test, although 12 asked…
October 14, 2020
Risk Factors for Re-Detectable Positivity in Recovered COVID-19 Children
In a healthcare setting in China where two negative PCR tests for SARS-Cov-2 were required for hospital discharge, 37% of pediatric patients (n=14) had positive PCR tests upon subsequent PCR testing (“re-detectable positivity”). Family cluster infection, higher white blood cell count, and longer plasma prothrombin time were identified as risk factors for re-detectable positivity. In…
Antiretroviral Drugs for Treatment and Prevention of HIV Infection in Adults
The International Antiviral Society-USA panel released recommendations regarding antiretroviral therapy for both the treatment and prevention of HIV. These guidelines involve recommendations regarding when to start antiretroviral therapy, when to change regimens, and recommendations for specific subpopulations (e.g., elderly patients, patients with organ dysfunction). Highlights of changes from previous versions include new recommendations for initial…
Evaluation of Saliva Sampling Procedures for SARS-CoV-2 Diagnostics Reveals Differential Sensitivity and Association with Viral Load
[Preprint, not peer-reviewed] Saliva collection devices showed poor sensitivities for detecting SARS-CoV-2 RNA in Belgian outpatients. Saliva samples collected either by spitting into a commercial preservative (Norgen Biotek) or swabbing (DNA Genotek) had sensitivities of 31% and 22% when compared to individuals who were PCR-positive on nasopharyngeal swabs (N=107) from outpatient triage centers in Belgium….
October 13, 2020
Estimated Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies Among Adults in Orange County California
[Pre-print, not peer-reviewed] A SARS-CoV-2 surveillance study in Orange County, CA conducted from July to August 2020 reported an adjusted SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence estimate of 11.5%, which is 7-fold greater than the estimate using official County statistics on cases reported. To minimize bias, the authors recruited adults (n=2,979) to answer a survey without knowing they would…
October 12, 2020
Beneficial Effect of Corticosteroids in Preventing Mortality in Patients Receiving Tocilizumab to Treat Severe COVID-19 Illness
An observational retrospective analysis of the characteristics and risk factors for mortality in patients with severe COVID-19 treated with the immunomodulator tocilizumab (TCZ), with or without corticosteroids, found that mortality was associated with older age (HR=1.09), chronic heart failure (HR=4.4), and chronic liver disease (HR=4.69). 186 patients were treated with TCZ, among whom 129 were…
Sample Pooling Is a Viable Strategy for SARS-CoV-2 Detection in Low-Prevalence Settings
Sample pooling was found to be a practical strategy for SARS-CoV-2 testing in low-prevalence settings. The study assessed the sensitivity and theoretical efficiency of two, four, and eight-sample pools to evaluate throughput and assess the potential to conserve PCR reagents. As pool size increased, sensitivity decreased and efficiency increased. The practicality of pooling samples also…
Diagnostic Accuracy of FDA Authorized Serology Tests to Detect SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
[Pre-print, not peer reviewed]A systematic review and meta-analysis of the diagnostic accuracy of seven different FDA-authorized tests for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies found that the pooled sensitivity was 87% and the pooled specificity was nearly 100%. Sensitivity increased with increased time between symptom onset and sample collection: at ≤ 7 days, sensitivity was 44%, for 8-14 days,…
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