Top in ID: Drive-through COVID-19 testing, ID consults

A recent study demonstrated the safety and efficiency of drive-through testing for COVID-19. It was the top story in infectious disease last week.

Another top story was about a study that showed infectious disease consultations reduced mortality by up to 59% among patients with candidemia.

Read these and more news in infectious disease below:

Drive-through COVID-19 testing offers ‘safe and efficient’ screening

Drive-through COVID-19 screening is an efficient way to safely screen large numbers of people — including health care workers — and can reduce health care exposures and save personal protective equipment, according to a study. Read more.

ID consult associated with 59% reduction in mortality among patients with candidemia

Infectious disease consultation was associated with a 59% reduction in mortality among patients hospitalized with candidemia, according to the results of a systematic review and meta-analysis published in Open Forum Infectious Diseases. Read more.

Antibiotic use ‘widespread’ among patients with COVID-19; co-infections uncommon

A study published in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology reported “widespread” use of empirical antibiotics for patients with COVID-19 at a New York hospital, and that coinfections among COVID-19 patients were uncommon. Read more.

Norovirus costs the US $10.6 billion annually, researchers estimate

Researchers estimated that the total annual economic burden of norovirus in the United States is $10.6 billion — “higher than other diseases ... that have received far more attention,” they wrote. Read more.

RSV linked to severe morbidity, mortality among hospitalized older adults

Respiratory syncytial virus was associated with high rates of pneumonia, ventilatory support and both short- and long-term mortality among hospitalized older adult patients, according to a study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases. Read more.