Home Infectious Disease August 2020 Briefing – Infectious Disease

August 2020 Briefing – Infectious Disease

Here are what the editors at HealthDay consider to be the most important developments in Infectious Disease for August 2020. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal articles, as well as the FDA approvals and regulatory changes that are the most likely to affect clinical practice.

FDA Could Green-Light COVID-19 Vaccines Before Clinical Trials Completed

MONDAY, Aug. 31, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Emergency use authorization (EUA) or approval for a COVID-19 vaccine before phase 3 clinical trials are complete could be considered by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, according to the agency’s commissioner, Stephen Hahn, M.D.

CNN Article

Delayed Radiotherapy Not Tied to Worse Survival in Prostate Cancer

FRIDAY, Aug. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For men with prostate cancer (PC), initiation of radiotherapy (RT) up to six months after androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is not associated with worse overall survival (OS), according to a research letter published online Aug. 13 in JAMA Oncology.

Community-Level Factors Explain Some Racial Disparities in COVID-19

MONDAY, Aug. 31, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Community-level factors explain some, but not all, racial and ethnic disparities in COVID-19 rates in Massachusetts, according to a report published online Aug. 27 in Health Affairs.

Chlamydia, Gonorrhea Rates Up Among Young Women in the U.S.

MONDAY, Aug. 31, 2020 (HealthDay News) — There has been an age shift in positivity for Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae among women, according to a study published online Aug. 20 in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Peaches Has Now Sickened 78 People

FRIDAY, Aug. 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A Salmonella outbreak linked to recalled peaches from Prima Wawona and Wawona Packing Co. LLC has now sickened 78 people in 12 states, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in an update Thursday. It said that 23 people have been hospitalized, but no deaths have been reported.

Physician’s Briefing Weekly Coronavirus Roundup

Here is what the editors at Physician’s Briefing chose as the most important COVID-19 developments for you and your practice for the week of Aug. 24 to 28, 2020. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal studies and other trusted sources that is most likely to affect clinical practice.

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FDA Warns of Hand Sanitizers in Food-Like Packaging

FRIDAY, Aug. 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A warning about alcohol-based hand sanitizers in packaging that looks like food or drink has been issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Model Says COVID-19 Deaths Could Surpass 317,000 by December

FRIDAY, Aug. 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A widely cited model for COVID-19 deaths in the United States predicts a total of 317,000 deaths by December.

CNN Article

Low Rates of Severe Disease, Death Reported for Children With COVID-19

FRIDAY, Aug. 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Severe disease and death appear to be rare among children and young people hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19, according to an observational study in the United Kingdom published online Aug. 27 in The BMJ.

Early Use of Empiric Antibacterial Therapy Common in COVID-19

FRIDAY, Aug. 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Early empiric antibacterial therapy use is high in patients hospitalized with COVID-19, according to a study published online Aug. 21 in Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Mortality, Intubation Rates Lower With Anticoagulation in COVID-19

FRIDAY, Aug. 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Among hospitalized patients with COVID-19, anticoagulation (AC) is associated with reduced mortality and intubation, according to a study published online Aug. 26 in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

COVID-19 Infection May Initially Present as Acute Pancreatitis

FRIDAY, Aug. 28, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Acute pancreatitis may be a gastrointestinal manifestation of COVID-19, according to research published online Aug. 26 in Gastroenterology.

No SARS-CoV-2 RNA Seen on Surfaces in Radiation Oncology Clinic

THURSDAY, Aug. 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Testing of environmental surfaces in the radiation oncology clinic in a tertiary care COVID-19 referral center revealed no detectable severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA, according to a research letter published online Aug. 27 in JAMA Oncology.

Maine Summer Camps Identified, Isolated COVID-19 Cases

THURSDAY, Aug. 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Three COVID-19-positive people with no symptoms were successfully identified and isolated at four overnight camps in Maine, according to research published in the Aug. 26 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Parents Have Contradictory Views on Childhood Vaccines

THURSDAY, Aug. 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The vast majority of parents believe vaccines are the best way to protect their children from infectious diseases, yet two-thirds are still nervous to take their children to their pediatrician’s office during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the results of a survey released by Orlando Health.

Metabolic Syndrome Linked to Worse Outcomes in COVID-19

THURSDAY, Aug. 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with a lethal outcome for patients with COVID-19, according to a study published online Aug. 25 in Diabetes Care.

Admissions for Stroke, TIA Down Early in COVID-19 Pandemic

THURSDAY, Aug. 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Admissions for stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA) have decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study published online Aug. 26 in Stroke and Vascular Neurology.

Risk for COVID-19 Hospitalization Follows Usual Pattern in Lupus

THURSDAY, Aug. 27, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), predictors of hospitalization include race, presence of comorbidity, and body mass index, according to a study published online July 26 in Arthritis & Rheumatology.

WHO: Polio Eradicated in Africa

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) — An effort that began in 1996 has led to the eradication of polio in Africa, according to the World Health Organization.

U.S. Nursing Home Staff Must Be Tested Regularly for COVID-19

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Nursing home staff will have to be tested regularly for COVID-19, and facilities that fail to do so will face fines, the Trump administration said Tuesday.

AP News Article

Changes to CDC COVID-19 Testing Guidelines Trigger Concern

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Experts are alarmed about revised U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines advising that people who do not have symptoms of COVID-19 do not need to be tested, even if they have recently been exposed to the new coronavirus.

The New York Times Article

Mental Health Resilience Tied to Fewer COVID-19 Worries

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Resilience helps alleviate COVID-19-related worries as well as anxiety and depression, according to a study published online Aug. 20 in Translational Psychiatry.

Increase in Hospital Bed Use Tied to COVID-19 Deaths in Seven Days

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 26, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Intensive care unit (ICU) and non-ICU bed use as a percentage of a state’s hospital bed capacity is significantly associated with an increase in overall COVID-19 deaths during the next seven days, according to a study published online Aug. 19 in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.

Nurse Understaffing Common in Hospitals Prior to COVID-19

TUESDAY, Aug. 25, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Many hospital nurses in Illinois and New York were burned out and working in understaffed conditions immediately prior to the first wave of COVID-19 patients, according to a study published online Aug. 18 in BMJ Quality & Safety.

Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in Asymptomatic Children Identified

TUESDAY, Aug. 25, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The pooled prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV02) in asymptomatic children is 0.65 percent and is significantly associated with the incidence of COVID-19 in the general population, according to a research letter published online Aug. 25 in JAMA Pediatrics.

WHO: Plasma Therapy for COVID-19 Still Experimental

TUESDAY, Aug. 25, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The use of blood plasma from COVID-19 survivors to treat patients hospitalized with the disease is still considered experimental, the World Health Organization said the day after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it would allow emergency use of the therapy.

AP News Article

Return to Hospital Infrequent After COVID-19 Admission

TUESDAY, Aug. 25, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Return to hospital after discharge for inpatients with COVID-19 is infrequent, according to a study published online Aug. 19 in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.

Care Delayed for Many U.S. Breast Cancer Patients Early in Pandemic

TUESDAY, Aug. 25, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Nearly half of breast cancer patients have experienced delays in care due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study published online Aug. 9 in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment.

Web Searches Suggesting Acute Anxiety Spiked Early in COVID-19

TUESDAY, Aug. 25, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Internet searches indicative of acute anxiety peaked early in the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a research letter published online Aug. 24 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Heart Events Observed for ~12 Percent of Adults Hospitalized With Flu

TUESDAY, Aug. 25, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Among adults hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed influenza, 11.7 percent have an acute cardiovascular event, according to a study published online Aug. 25 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Staffing, PPE Shortages Continue in U.S. Nursing Homes

MONDAY, Aug. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — One in five U.S. nursing homes reports a severe shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) and any shortage of staff during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report published online Aug. 20 in Health Affairs.

Pop Concert Held to Learn More About COVID-19 Spread

MONDAY, Aug. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — About 1,500 people attended a pop concert in Germany to help researchers learn how the new coronavirus spreads in such situations.

AP News Article

World’s First Confirmed Case of COVID-19 Reinfection Reported in Hong Kong

MONDAY, Aug. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The world’s first confirmed case of reinfection with the new coronavirus has been reported in Hong Kong.

The New York Times Article

Widespread Mask Use Could Save 70,000 U.S. Lives by Dec. 1

MONDAY, Aug. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — There could be another 134,000 COVID-19 deaths in the United States by Dec. 1 if no new prevention measures are introduced, and the number of deaths could be much higher if rules are relaxed, researchers report. However, they also said that 70,000 lives could be saved if more people wore masks, CNN reported.

CNN Article

FDA Approves Wider Use of Plasma as COVID-19 Treatment

MONDAY, Aug. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Sunday cleared the way for more hospitalized COVID-19 patients to be treated with the blood plasma of COVID-19 survivors.

Clinical Impact of Remdesivir in Moderate COVID-19 Unclear

MONDAY, Aug. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Patients with moderate COVID-19 receiving a five-day course of remdesivir have a statistically significant difference in clinical status compared with usual care, according to a study published online Aug. 21 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

School-Located Influenza Vaccine Intervention Beneficial

MONDAY, Aug. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A school-located influenza vaccination (SLIV) intervention is associated with a reduction in the incidence of influenza hospitalization, according to a study published online Aug. 18 in PLOS Medicine.

RAAS Inhibitors May Benefit HTN Patients With COVID-19

MONDAY, Aug. 24, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitors are beneficial for hypertensive patients with COVID-19, according to a study published online Aug. 24 in Current Atherosclerosis Reports.

Physician’s Briefing Weekly Coronavirus Roundup

Here is what the editors at Physician’s Briefing chose as the most important COVID-19 developments for you and your practice for the week of Aug. 17 to 21, 2020. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal studies and other trusted sources that is most likely to affect clinical practice.

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White House Blocks FDA’s Power to Regulate Lab Tests

FRIDAY, Aug. 21, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The Trump administration has blocked the U.S. Food and Drug Administration from regulating a wide swath of laboratory tests, including ones for COVID-19.

Washington Post Article

Public COVID-19 Information Written at Too High a Level

FRIDAY, Aug. 21, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Online information about the COVID-19 pandemic posted by the World Health Organization, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other public health organizations worldwide may be too difficult for many people to understand, a new study suggests.

Extract From Deadly Plant Touted as COVID-19 Cure

FRIDAY, Aug. 21, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Experts have slammed claims by a major Trump donor that an extract from a deadly plant is a cure for COVID-19.

The New York Times Article

Adolescent Vaccinations Decreased During COVID-19 Pandemic

FRIDAY, Aug. 21, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The decrease in vaccination orders seen during the COVID-19 pandemic could offset increases in vaccinations for adolescents from 2018 to 2019, according to research published in the Aug. 21 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

ACIP Issues Recommendations for 2020 to 2021 Flu Vaccination

FRIDAY, Aug. 21, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations have been updated to include the influenza vaccination for the 2020 to 2021 season; the recommendations were published in the Aug. 21 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Genetically Modified Mosquitoes to Be Released in Florida Keys

THURSDAY, Aug. 20, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Hundreds of millions of genetically modified mosquitoes will be released into the Florida Keys to test if they can help control Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that carry several deadly diseases, including Zika, dengue, chikungunya, and yellow fever.

CNN Article

Wawona Bagged Peaches Linked to Salmonella Outbreak

THURSDAY, Aug. 20, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A Salmonella outbreak that has sickened 68 people in nine states may be linked to Wawona-brand bagged peaches sold at ALDI stores, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday.

Incidence of COVID-19 Up for American Indians, Alaska Natives

THURSDAY, Aug. 20, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The overall incidence of COVID-19 is increased among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) persons in the United States, according to research published in the Aug. 19 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

SARS-CoV-2 Nasopharyngeal Load Higher in Children Than Adults

THURSDAY, Aug. 20, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Children with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection have the highest nasopharyngeal viral load in the first two days of symptoms, according to a study published online Aug. 20 in The Journal of Pediatrics.

Disparities Seen in COVID-19 Hospitalizations in Racial/Ethnic Subgroups

THURSDAY, Aug. 20, 2020 (HealthDay News) — There are considerable disparities in the prevalence of COVID-19 across racial/ethnic subgroups in the United States, according to a research letter published online Aug. 17 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

FDA Emergency Approval on Hold for Blood Plasma to Treat COVID-19

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 19, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration emergency approval of blood plasma as a COVID-19 treatment was put on hold last week after senior federal health officials said data supporting the therapy were too weak.

The New York Times Article

Poll: More Older Adults Using Telehealth During Pandemic

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 19, 2020 (HealthDay News) — More older adults have used telehealth to consult with a health care provider during the COVID-19 pandemic compared with that seen in the previous year, according to a report published online Aug. 17 based on the results of the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging.

CDC: Recalled Onions Linked to 869 Salmonella Cases in 47 States

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 19, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Recalled onions have been linked to a Salmonella outbreak that has caused 869 illnesses in 47 states, according to an update late Tuesday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

HHS: Pharmacists in All States Can Give Childhood Vaccinations

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 19, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Children can now be vaccinated by pharmacists in all 50 states as the U.S. government seeks to prevent a decline in routine vaccinations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

AP News Article

Disparities Seen in COVID-19 Hot Spots for Racial, Ethnic Minority Groups

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 19, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Disparities in COVID-19 cases are seen in one or more underrepresented racial/ethnic groups in almost all hot spots in the United States, according to research published in the Aug. 14 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

USPSTF Urges Behavioral Counseling to Prevent STIs

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 19, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends behavioral counseling interventions for preventing sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in adolescents and adults at increased risk. These recommendations form the basis of a final recommendation statement published in the Aug. 18 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Evidence Report
Final Recommendation Statement
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)

Honey Beats Usual Care for Upper Respiratory Tract Infections

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 19, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs), honey seems superior to usual care, according to a review and meta-analysis published online Aug. 18 in BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine.

Antibiotics May Reduce Efficacy of Hormonal Contraceptives

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 19, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The efficacy of hormonal contraceptives may be reduced with use of antibiotics, according to a study published online Aug. 18 in BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine.

COVID-19 Spread Among Students Prompts UNC to Return to Online Teaching

TUESDAY, Aug. 18, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In a potential harbinger of what could unfold on college campuses across the United States this fall, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill said Monday it will revert back to online teaching after testing showed a rapid spread of COVID-19 among students.

The New York Times Article

FDA: COVID-19 Test Could Give Inaccurate Results

TUESDAY, Aug. 18, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A widely used COVID-19 test could produce inaccurate results due to issues with the equipment and software used to run the test, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned Monday.

COVID-19 Cases Rebound Sharply in U.S. Nursing Homes

TUESDAY, Aug. 18, 2020 (HealthDay News) — COVID-19 cases in U.S. nursing homes rose nearly 80 percent earlier this summer, and the vast majority of them occurred in Sunbelt states, a new study shows.

California Has First Plague Case in Five Years

TUESDAY, Aug. 18, 2020 (HealthDay News) — California’s first case of plague in five years has been confirmed by health officials.

CBS News Article

COVID-19 Antibodies Detected in Maternity Care Workers in U.K.

TUESDAY, Aug. 18, 2020 (HealthDay News) — One out of six maternity health care workers are seropositive for antibodies against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), according to a study published online Aug. 10 in Anaesthesia.

FDA: Cyclospora Outbreak Source Still Unknown

MONDAY, Aug. 17, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The source of an outbreak of Cyclospora infections that have affected 690 people in 13 states is still unknown, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration says.

Neck Gaiters ‘Worse Than Nothing’ in Preventing COVID-19 Spread

MONDAY, Aug. 17, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Thin, stretchy neck gaiters are “worse than nothing” when it comes to preventing the spread of COVID-19, according to researchers.

COVID-19 Impact on Homeless People in U.S. Not as Bad as Feared

MONDAY, Aug. 17, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on homeless people in the United States has not been as severe as feared, data show.

AP News Article

CV Risk Factors, Comorbidity Tied to COVID-19 CV Complications

MONDAY, Aug. 17, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients hospitalized with COVID-19, preexisting cardiovascular comorbidities or risk factors (RFs) are associated with cardiovascular complications, which contribute to mortality, according to a meta-analysis published online Aug. 14 in PLOS ONE.

Hospital Visitation, Communication Policies Evolving Due to COVID-19

MONDAY, Aug. 17, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Patient visitation policies and clinician communication methods in hospitals have undergone a major overhaul, according to a letter to the editor published online July 20 in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Physician’s Briefing Weekly Coronavirus Roundup

Here is what the editors at Physician’s Briefing chose as the most important COVID-19 developments for you and your practice for the week of Aug. 10 to 14, 2020. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal studies and other trusted sources that is most likely to affect clinical practice.

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COVID-19 Deaths in Nursing Homes Climbing Again

FRIDAY, Aug. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The novel coronavirus is surging once more in U.S. nursing homes, where it killed tens of thousands at the start of the pandemic.

Washington Post Article

Convalescent Plasma Efficacious for Severe COVID-19

FRIDAY, Aug. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Transfusion of convalescent plasma is efficacious in patients with severe COVID-19, according to a study published online Aug. 11 in The American Journal of Pathology.

Excess Mortality During Peak of 1918 Flu Similar to COVID-19 in NYC

FRIDAY, Aug. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Excess mortality during the peak of the 1918 H1N1 influenza pandemic was comparable to that seen early in the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in New York City, according to a research letter published online Aug. 13 in JAMA Network Open.

Racial, Ethnic Disparities in Flu Shot Seen at Dialysis Facilities

FRIDAY, Aug. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For U.S. patients undergoing dialysis, the proportion receiving influenza vaccination is lower at facilities with higher proportions of Black and Hispanic patients, according to a study published online Aug. 13 in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

Positivity Rates of SARS-CoV-2 Low for Children in England

FRIDAY, Aug. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Children in England had low positivity rates of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) during the first COVID-19 pandemic peak and also had a low case-fatality rate, according to a study published online Aug. 12 in the Archives of Disease in Childhood.

Compression Therapy Lowers Recurrence of Cellulitis of Leg

FRIDAY, Aug. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients with chronic edema of the leg and cellulitis, compression therapy results in a lower incidence of cellulitis recurrence, according to a study published in the Aug. 13 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Return-to-School Recommendations Issued for Organ Transplant Recipients

FRIDAY, Aug. 14, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients, the decision of whether to return to school should be a shared decision between families, transplant professionals, and educators, according to an expert opinion article published online Aug. 4 in the Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society.

Abnormal Liver Tests Common in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients

THURSDAY, Aug. 13, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Hospitalized patients with COVID-19 frequently have abnormal liver tests, which may be associated with poorer clinical outcomes, according to research published online July 29 in Hepatology.

U.S. COVID-19 Death Tally Hits New High for Summer

THURSDAY, Aug. 13, 2020 (HealthDay News) — America logged its highest single-day COVID-19 death total of the summer on Wednesday, as the toll from an earlier surge in cases in Sun Belt states continued to mount.

The New York Times Article

FDA Warns of Hand Sanitizers Tainted With 1-Propanol

THURSDAY, Aug. 13, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning people not to use hand sanitizers made by Harmonic Nature S de RL de MI in Mexico.

Adverse Mental, Behavioral Health Issues Common During COVID-19

THURSDAY, Aug. 13, 2020 (HealthDay News) — More than 40 percent of adults across the United States have reported at least one adverse mental or behavioral health condition during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to research published in the Aug. 14 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

CDC Updates Info on Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children

THURSDAY, Aug. 13, 2020 (HealthDay News) — As of July 29, there have been a total of 570 U.S. cases of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), according to research published in the Aug. 7 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Physicians Do Not See They Are Part of Antibiotic Rx Problem

THURSDAY, Aug. 13, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Primary care physicians generally do not recognize antibiotic resistance and inappropriate prescribing as issues in their practice, according to a study published in the July issue of Open Forum Infectious Diseases.

Maternal Weight Tied to Early-Onset Neonatal Bacterial Sepsis

THURSDAY, Aug. 13, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Risk for early-onset neonatal bacterial sepsis (EOS) increases with maternal overweight and obesity, particularly in term infants, according to a study recently published in Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Burnout Less Likely for Doctors in Minority Race/Ethnic Groups

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 12, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Compared with non-Hispanic White physicians, physicians in minority racial/ethnic groups are less likely to report burnout, according to a study published online Aug. 7 in JAMA Network Open.

Many Community Outbreaks of COVID-19 Traced to Restaurants, Bars

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 12, 2020 (HealthDay News) — New data show that many of the community outbreaks of COVID-19 that have cropped up in the United States this summer have originated in restaurants and bars.

The New York Times Article

U.S. Government to Buy 100 Million Doses of COVID-19 Vaccine From Moderna

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 12, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The Trump administration has agreed to pay $1.5 billion for 100 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine from Moderna once it is approved, CNN reported Wednesday.

CNN Article

CDC: Pediatric Hospitalizations for COVID-19 Increasing

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 12, 2020 (HealthDay News) — While rates of hospitalization for children with COVID-19 remain low, they have been increasing, according to research published in the Aug. 7 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Surgical Delays Not Life-Threatening in Early Breast Cancer

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 12, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Surgical delays do not seem to be life-threatening for women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) or with early-stage estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer, according to a study published online Aug. 6 in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.

Bacterial Infections Increase Coronary Heart Disease Risk in T1DM

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 12, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Bacterial infections are associated with an increased risk for incident coronary heart disease (CHD) in individuals with type 1 diabetes, according to a study published online Aug. 4 in the Journal of Internal Medicine.

E-Cigarette Use Linked to Increased Odds of COVID-19

TUESDAY, Aug. 11, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and dual use of cigarettes and e-cigarettes are associated with increased likelihood of COVID-19 diagnosis, according to a study published online Aug. 11 in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

Guidance Helps Doctors Optimize Telemedicine for Seniors

TUESDAY, Aug. 11, 2020 (HealthDay News) — In an Ideas and Opinions article published online Aug. 11 in the Annals of Internal Medicine, guidance is provided for physicians to optimize telemedicine, which can be challenging for older patients.

SARS-CoV-2 Rates Up for Minority, Disadvantaged Children

TUESDAY, Aug. 11, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The rates of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection are increased among minority and socioeconomically disadvantaged children, according to a study published online Aug. 5 in Pediatrics.

FDA Head Says Any Approved COVID-19 Vaccine Will Be Safe

TUESDAY, Aug. 11, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Stephen Hahn, M.D., the head of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, said Monday that the agency will not compromise safety when approving a COVID-19 vaccine, CNN reported.

CNN Article

Gilead Seeks FDA Approval for Remdesivir

TUESDAY, Aug. 11, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Gilead Sciences has applied to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for approval for its COVID-19 treatment, remdesivir. The antiviral drug will take the brand name Veklury, the company said.

Russia Approves COVID-19 Vaccine Before Trials Completed

TUESDAY, Aug. 11, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Before completing clinical trials to ensure the vaccine is safe and effective, the Russian government has gone ahead and approved a vaccine against the new coronavirus, The New York Times reported Tuesday.

The New York Times Article

Report: 97,000 U.S. Children Infected With COVID-19 in Late July

MONDAY, Aug. 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — With millions of American children soon returning to school, a new study shows that at least 97,000 children were infected with COVID-19 during the last two weeks of July.

The New York Times Article
Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children

FDA: Outbreak of Salmonella Infections Linked to Onions

MONDAY, Aug. 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers not to use onions recalled by Thomson International Inc. as they may be contaminated with Salmonella, which has sickened more than 900 people in the United States and Canada.

More Information: FDA
More Information: CDC

Legionella Bacteria Forces CDC Office Closures

MONDAY, Aug. 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention informed employees that office space it rents in the Atlanta area would be closed after Legionella, the bacteria that causes legionnaires disease, was found in the buildings, The New York Times reported. Fortunately, no employees have been sickened.

The New York Times Article

Expanding Medicaid in Holdout States Could Insure 3.9 Million

MONDAY, Aug. 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Expanding Medicaid to all states could reduce the number of uninsured by 28 percent based on pre-COVID-19 data, according to a report released by the Urban Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Two-Thirds of U.S. Adults Likely to Get COVID-19 Vaccine

MONDAY, Aug. 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Two-thirds of U.S. adults say they would get a COVID-19 vaccine, according to the results of a survey released Aug. 6 by the COVID-19 Consortium for Understanding the Public’s Policy Preferences Across States.

Most Eye Practices Seeing Urgent Cases During COVID-19

MONDAY, Aug. 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Most practices are complying with the American Academy of Ophthalmology guidelines for scheduling patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study published online Aug. 5 in JAMA Ophthalmology.

Hospitalization Rates for AMI Dropped During Early COVID-19

MONDAY, Aug. 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — During the early COVID-19 period, there was a decrease in hospitalization rates for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), according to a brief report published online Aug. 7 in JAMA Cardiology.

Serine 91 Genotype of gyrA Gonorrhea Successfully Treated With Ciprofloxacin

MONDAY, Aug. 10, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients with gonorrhea, detection of the wild-type serine 91 genotype of the gyrA gene of Neisseria gonorrhoeae is predictive of a successful treatment outcome with ciprofloxacin, according to a study published online Aug. 7 in Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Physician’s Briefing Weekly Coronavirus Roundup

Here is what the editors at Physician’s Briefing chose as the most important COVID-19 developments for you and your practice for the week of Aug. 3 to 7, 2020. This roundup includes the latest research news from journal studies and other trusted sources that is most likely to affect clinical practice.

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300,000 American Deaths Projected by December Without More Face Mask Use

FRIDAY, Aug. 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) — As the U.S. COVID-19 case count neared 5 million on Thursday, a new model predicted that nearly 300,000 Americans could die of COVID-19 by December if more people do not wear masks or practice better social distancing.

U.S. Cancels Blanket Warning for International Travel

FRIDAY, Aug. 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) — On Thursday, the Trump administration canceled its warnings against international travel because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Associated Press reported.

Life Expectancy 78.60 Years for U.S. Population for 2009-2011

FRIDAY, Aug. 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Life expectancy for 2009 to 2011 was 78.60 years for the total U.S. population, with the highest life expectancy for Hispanic women, according to the Aug. 7 National Vital Statistics Reports, a publication from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies Detected in 13.7 Percent of NYC HCPs

FRIDAY, Aug. 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Among health care providers in the New York City area, 13.7 percent have severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies, a rate similar to adults randomly tested in New York state, according to a research letter published online Aug. 6 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

COVID-19 Tied to Higher Risk for Large Vessel Occlusion Strokes

FRIDAY, Aug. 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) — COVID-19 is associated with large vessel occlusion (LVO) strokes, according to a study published online July 29 in the American Journal of Roentgenology.

Moderna Charging Much More for COVID-19 Vaccine Than Others

FRIDAY, Aug. 7, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Moderna is charging $37 a dose for its experimental vaccine, which is far more than what other companies say they plan to charge for their vaccines, CBS News reported Wednesday. Because two doses of the vaccine are needed to immunize people from COVID-19, total costs could be $74 per person.

CBS News Article

Scientists Call for Broader Use of Faster COVID-19 Tests

THURSDAY, Aug. 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — As COVID-19 cases continue to surge across America, scientists on Wednesday called for widespread adoption of simpler, less accurate tests, as long as they are given often and quickly.

The New York Times Article

Johnson & Johnson Makes $1 Billion Vaccine Deal

THURSDAY, Aug. 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. government will pay Johnson & Johnson $1 billion for 100 million doses of its vaccine if it is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the Washington Post reported Wednesday.

Washington Post Article

ICU Beds Lacking in Low-Income Neighborhoods Across the U.S.

THURSDAY, Aug. 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — There are greater shortages of intensive care unit (ICU) beds for critically ill patients in low-income neighborhoods compared with high-income neighborhoods, according to a report published in the August issue of Health Affairs.

ED Visits Decreased in Five States From January Through April 2020

THURSDAY, Aug. 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — As the COVID-19 pandemic intensified, there was a decrease in emergency department visits in five states from January through April 2020, according to a study published online Aug. 3 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Early Use of IL-6 Inhibitors May Improve COVID-19 Outcomes

THURSDAY, Aug. 6, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients with severe COVID-19, administration of an interleukin-6 receptor inhibitor (IL6ri) earlier in the disease course is associated with improved outcomes, according to a study published online July 25 in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases.

Experimental COVID-19 Vaccine Shows Encouraging Results

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 5, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Maryland-based Novavax said Tuesday that preliminary trials of an experimental COVID-19 vaccine were promising.

The New York Times Article

Seven States Join Pact to Speed COVID-19 Testing

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 5, 2020 (HealthDay News) — As the daily U.S. COVID-19 death toll averaged more than 1,000 for the ninth straight day on Tuesday, governors from seven states banded together to shorten turnaround time for COVID-19 test results.

The New York Times Article
CNN Article

CDC Describes 238 Confirmed Cases of Acute Flaccid Myelitis

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 5, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM) mainly occurs during August to November, and weakness onset is often preceded by prodromal fever, respiratory illness, or both, according to research published in the Aug. 4 early-release issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

COVID-19 Case Fatality Rate 29 Percent in Multiple Myeloma Patients

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 5, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For patients with multiple myeloma and COVID-19, the case fatality rate is 29 percent among hospitalized patients, with increased odds of adverse outcomes among racial/ethnic minorities, according to a study published online July 30 in Blood Cancer Discovery.

Health Plans Not Implementing Prior Authorization Reforms

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 5, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Physicians say prior authorization (PA) continues to interfere with patient care and can lead to adverse clinical consequences, according to the results of a survey released by the American Medical Association.

Study Looks at Optimal Strategy for Reopening Schools in U.K.

WEDNESDAY, Aug. 5, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Population-wide testing and effective contact tracing are necessary to prevent an epidemic rebound following school reopening in the United Kingdom; and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission rates were low in an educational setting in Australia, according to two studies published online Aug. 3 in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health.

President Says Medicare Should Expand Telehealth Services

TUESDAY, Aug. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) — President Donald Trump signed an order on Monday that will broaden the role of telehealth for Medicare patients, the Associated Press reported.

AP News Article

Number of Newly ID’d U.S. Patients With Cancer Dropped During COVID-19

TUESDAY, Aug. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) — During the COVID-19 pandemic period, there was a significant decline in newly identified U.S. patients with six common types of cancer, according to a research letter published online Aug. 4 in JAMA Network Open.

Most Studies Still Fail to Analyze Data by Sex

TUESDAY, Aug. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The effect of gender is still largely ignored in scientific studies, according to a study published online June 9 in eLife.

Trump’s Plan Limits Free Nursing Home COVID-19 Tests

TUESDAY, Aug. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) — The plan to give every nursing home a fast COVID-19 testing machine has a catch, the Associated Press reported Tuesday. The catch is that under the Trump administration plan, the government will not give kits to check staff and residents more than a couple of times.

AP News Article

Burnout High Among Nonphysician Frontline Health Care Workers

TUESDAY, Aug. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) — More than 40 percent of nurses on the front lines during the pandemic may be experiencing burnout, according to a research letter published online Aug. 4 in JAMA Network Open.

Program Cuts Outpatient Antibiotic Rx for Peds Respiratory Infections

TUESDAY, Aug. 4, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A distance learning program is effective for reducing outpatient prescribing for pediatric acute respiratory tract infection (ARTI) visits, according to a study published online Aug. 3 in Pediatrics.

Cost-Related Rx Nonadherence Highest in Young U.S. Women

MONDAY, Aug. 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Cost-related prescription nonadherence is highest among younger U.S. women compared with individuals living in 10 other high-income countries, according to a report published in the August issue of Health Affairs.

Short Video May Lower Parent Interest in Antibiotics for Child

MONDAY, Aug. 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) — A 90-second animated video can reduce parents’ interest in receiving antibiotics for their child’s respiratory infection, according to a study published online June 15 in The Journal of Pediatrics.

Obesity Ups Risk for Intubation, Death With COVID-19 in Adults <65

MONDAY, Aug. 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Obesity is associated with an increased risk for intubation or death among hospitalized adults with COVID-19, with the association observed in adults younger than 65 years but not in older adults, according to a study published online July 29 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Risk for Acute Cerebrovascular Events Low in COVID-19 Patients

MONDAY, Aug. 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) — For hospitalized COVID-19 patients, the risk for acute cerebrovascular events is low, according to a study published online July 20 in Stroke.

38 Percent of Older Adults in U.S. Not Ready for Video Doctor Visits

MONDAY, Aug. 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) — An estimated 38 percent of all older adults in the United States are not ready for video visits with physicians, according to a research letter published online Aug. 3 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

Risk for Positive COVID-19 Test Up for Health Care Workers

MONDAY, Aug. 3, 2020 (HealthDay News) — Frontline health care workers have an increased risk for reporting a positive test for COVID-19, according to a study published online July 31 in The Lancet Public Health.

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