Infection Control News

Antibodies in adults with diabetes hospitalized with COVID-19 in Italy had a similar positive response to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein as those without diabetes, according to findings published in Diabetologia.

A study conducted by the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research adds to the growing body of evidence that links AKI to increased mortality risk for patients hospitalized with COVID-19.

A study of patients who were hospitalized with COVID-19 showed those with pre-existing kidney disease experienced worse outcomes, including increased mortality.

Communication between hemodialysis and long-term care facilities can reduce patients’ risks for COVID-19 and adverse outcomes, according to an editorial published in Kidney Medicine.

Although less than 10% of patients on dialysis who were tested in a large study group last July had the antibodies for SARS-CoV-2, Black and Hispanic patients had a higher percentage of seroprevalence for the virus than white patients.

Patients infected with COVID-19 had a five times greater likelihood of in-hospital mortality if they also developed AKI, according to a study conducted at Tongi Hospital in Wuhan, China.

While researchers of this study found “limited complications” associated with urgent-start peritoneal dialysis, they identified several factors that may increase the risk for a variety of catheter-related complications, including leakage and peritonitis.

After assessing AKI in patients with and without COVID-19, researchers from Montefiore Medical Center in New York identified distinct patient characteristics and outcomes associated with the infection.

At the virtual Innovations in Dialysis: Expediting Advances Symposium, the chair of the Nephrologists Transforming Dialysis Safety program discussed measures the group has taken to reduce infections for patients on dialysis.

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the chance of infection in patients on in-center dialysis, mandating that nephrology nurses be more diligent about following protocols to reduce the risk, a speaker said.