Top in ID: Novovax COVID-19 vaccine, hospital air contamination

A fifth COVID-19 vaccine has reached phase 3 development in the Unites States, according to the NIH. It was the top story in infectious disease last week.

Another top story was about a recent analysis that showed around 17% of air samples taken near patients hospitalized with COVID-19 were contaminated with SARS-CoV-2 RNA.

Read these and more top stories in infectious disease below:

Fifth COVID-19 vaccine reaches phase 3 development in US

Novovax has begun enrolling adult volunteers for a phase 3 trial of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate — the fifth COVID-19 vaccine to reach phase 3 development in the United States. Read more.

Hospital air frequently contaminated with SARS-CoV-2, though viruses are rarely viable

Around 17% of air samples taken close to patients hospitalized with COVID-19 were contaminated with SARS-CoV-2 RNA, although the viruses were rarely viable, according to findings from a systematic review published in JAMA. Read more.

First US case of gonorrhea with novel resistance gene identified in Nevada

The first case of Neisseria gonorrhoeae with the emerging mosaic penA60 allele — which confers reduced susceptibility to cefixime and ceftriaxone — has been identified in the United States, according to a recent study. Read more.

‘Just a matter of time’: COVID-19 variant identified in Colorado man

A variant strain of COVID-19 first reported in the United Kingdom has been identified in a Colorado man in his 20s, Gov. Jared Polis announced. Read more.

UK approves COVID-19 vaccine developed by AstraZeneca, Oxford

The United Kingdom became the first nation to approve the COVID-19 vaccine codeveloped by AstraZeneca and Oxford University. Read more.