Study identifies genetic factors that may influence COVID-19 susceptibility
Editor's Note This study by Cleveland Clinic researchers identifies genetic factors that may influence susceptibility to COVID-19, which could guide personalized treatment. The researchers investigated genetic susceptibility to COVID-19 by examining DNA polymorphisms (variations in DNA sequences) in the ACE2 and TMPRSS2 genes that produce the enzymes that enable the…
NIH, Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine headed to Phase III trial
Editor's Note Researchers testing a COVID-19 vaccine being developed by Dr Anthony Fauci’s team at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Moderna Inc, reported July 14 that the vaccine was able to produce neutralizing antibodies in the 45 trial participants inoculated in March. Moderna is scheduled to launch a late-stage…
Children rarely transmit COVID-19
Editor's Note A commentary published in Pediatrics, the official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, concludes that children rarely transmit COVID-19 to each other or to adults, and that schools can and should reopen in the fall, if safety guidelines are followed and community transmission is low. The commentary,…
Pfizer could have COVID-19 vaccine by October
Editor's Note Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approval of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine could happen in October, the July 12 Time reports. The company was granted FDA Fast Track designation for the vaccine. Pfizer’s vaccine, being developed with its German biotech partner BioNTech, uses a messenger-RNA, genetics-based approach. Pfizer CEO Albert…
COVID-19 pathophysiology, transmission, diagnosis, treatment
Editor's Note In this review article, researchers from the US, UK, Netherlands, and Australia discuss current evidence on the pathophysiology, transmission, diagnosis, and management of COVID-19. Among their findings: COVID-19 is spread primarily via respiratory droplets during close face-to-face contact. Infection can be spread by asymptomatic, presymptomatic and symptomatic carriers.…
CDC: Absenteeism increased in essential workers during March, April of COVID-19 pandemic
Editor's Note The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) on July 10 reported that health-related workplace absenteeism rates were significantly higher than expected in March and April for some occupational groups in essential critical infrastructure categories. The following significantly exceeded their epidemic thresholds: personal care and services, including childcare…
Drug that calms ‘cytokine storm’ in COVID-19 patients linked to 45% lower risk of dying
Editor's Note Critically ill COVID-19 patients who received a single IV dose of tocilizumab, a drug that calms an overreacting immune system, were 45% less likely to die and more likely to leave the hospital or be off ventilator within a month, finds this new study from the University of…
CDC: Characteristics of patients who died with COVID-19, February 12-May 18
Editor's Note This July 10 report from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) provides detailed demographic and clinical information on a subset of 10,647 people who died with COVID-19 (ie, decedents) in 16 US public health jurisdictions between February 12 and May 18. The researchers found that: 60.6%…
Role of lifestyle, social connections in contracting COVID-19
Editor's Note Current research shows that unhealthy lifestyle choices, including smoking and lack of exercise, along with emotional stressors like social isolation and interpersonal conflicts are important risk factors for developing upper respiratory infections, and it is possible these same factors increase the risk of contracting COVID-19, researchers from Carnegie…
Joint Commission revises standards to align with CMS requirements
Editor's Note The Joint Commission announced July 1 that it has made two sets of standards changes for deemed-status hospitals and critical access hospitals. The first set of changes, which went into effect July 1, was made in response to hospital deeming renewal applications with the Centers for Medicare &…