Top stories in infectious disease: Remdesivir ‘best’ option for COVID-19, screening for only common symptoms may miss cases

The Infectious Diseases Society of America and HIV Medicine Association released a joint statement calling on the federal government to be more transparent about the distribution of remdesivir, which Infectious Disease News Editorial Board Member Peter Chin-Hong, MD, said is the “best that we have right now” for COVID-19. It was the top story in infectious disease last week.

Another top story was about the need to expand symptom-based screening criteria for COVID-19 among health care personnel (HCP) after new data showed that screening for only common symptoms may have missed symptomatic cases.

Read these and more top stories in infectious disease below:

Remdesivir is ‘the best that we have right now’ for COVID-19

In response to the FDA’s recent emergency use authorization of Gilead’s remdesivir for the treatment of COVID-19, the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and the HIV Medicine Association (HIVMA) called for public transparency from the federal government about the drug’s distribution. Read more.

 

Screening only for cough, shortness of breath, fever or sore throat may have missed 17% of symptomatic health care personnel with COVID-19, according to a recent study published in JAMA.

Source: Adobe Stock

Screening for only common COVID-19 symptoms may miss symptomatic cases among HCP

Screening only for cough, shortness of breath, fever or sore throat may have missed 17% of symptomatic HCP with COVID-19, according to a JAMA study — suggesting a need to expand symptom-based screening criteria for HCP. Read more.

Male gender, old age predominate in fatal COVID-19 cases

Male gender, old age and the presence of underlying conditions appear to be the most common characteristics associated with fatal COVID-19 outcomes, according to results from a study of 14 patients published in Open Forum Infectious Diseases. Read more.

Q&A: COVID-19 superinfections and antimicrobial resistance

Nosocomial superinfections, including ones that are resistant to antimicrobials, will likely develop in “an appreciable minority” of patients with severe COVID-19 infections, according to a commentary in Clinical Infectious Diseases, which notes that stewardship is “crucial” to reduce broad-spectrum antimicrobial use in patients who are hospitalized. Read more.

IDSA: Interventions are ‘urgently needed’ to limit spread of COVID-19 in jails

The IDSA and the HIVMA have issued policy recommendations to address the “alarmingly high rates” of COVID-19 in detention settings. Read more.