Do You Become Immune Once You Have Been Infected?

New Scientist
Volume 245, Issue 3275, 28 March 2020, Pages 10-11

GI.

Introduction

SAY you have caught COVID-19 and recovered – are you now immune for life, or could you catch it again? We just don't know yet.

In February, reports emerged of a woman in Japan who had been given the all-clear after having COVID-19 but then tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus a second time. There have also been reports of a man in Japan testing positive after being given the all-clear, and anecdotal cases of second positives have emerged from China, too.

Keywords

Epidemiology

Providing Pharmacy Services During The Coronavirus Pandemic

International Journal of Clinical Pharmacy

Liu, Shao; Luo, Ping; Tang, Mimi; Hu, Qin; Polidoro, Joseph P.; Sun, Shusen; Gong, Zhicheng

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) is quickly spreading across China and globally. Pharmacy services are an important pillar in public health to prevent and contain the COVID-19 pandemic. Chinese pharmacists have acted swiftly in the public health response in China, such as drafting professional service guidance to pharmacists and pharmacies, establishing emergency drug formularies, monitoring and resolving drug shortages, establishing remote pharmacy services to prevent human-to-human infections, providing event-driven pharmaceutical care, educating the public on infection prevention and disease management, and participating in clinical trials and drug evaluation. This commentary reviews the unique needs of pharmacy services in the COVID-19 pandemic, and shares our experiences with the international pharmacy community in the response to these needs.

Keywords

China, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Pharmaceutical care, Pharmacists, Pharmacy service, Public health

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Outbreak: Could Pigs Be Vectors For Human Infections?

Xenotransplantation

Opriessnig, Tanja; Huang, Yao-Wei

Introduction

Coronaviruses (CoVs) have recently received an extraordinary level of global attention due to the discovery of a novel high pathogenic human coronavirus (CoV) in China in December 2019. CoVs are positive‐sense RNA viruses that belong to the subfamily Orthocoronavirinae in the family Coronaviridae (Source: International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses—ICTV, Taxonomy history: Orthocoronavirinae. Accessed January 24, 2020). This family can be divided into four genera, α‐CoVs, β‐CoVs, γ‐CoVs, and δ‐CoVs. CoV in humans are common, often associated with mild cold symptoms, and include the α‐CoVs HCoV‐229E and HCoV‐NL63, and the β‐CoVs HCoV‐OC43 and HCoV‐HKU1. In addition, to date three high pathogenic CoVs (all β‐CoVs) are recognized in humans and characterized by moderate (MERS‐CoV) or high (SARS‐CoV, SARS‐CoV‐2) transmission rates and association with mortality.

Keywords

Epidemiology

The Epidemiology, Diagnosis And Treatment Of COVID-19

International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents

Zhai, Pan; Ding, Yanbing; Wu, Xia; Long, Junke; Zhong, Yanjun; Li, Yiming

Abstract

In December 2019, the outbreak of the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in China spread worldwide, becoming an emergency of major international concern. SARS-CoV-2 infection causes clusters of severe respiratory illness similar to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus. Human-to-human transmission has been described with incubation times between 2-14 days, facilitating its spread via droplets, contaminated hands or surfaces. Early diagnosis, quarantine, and supportive treatments are essential to cure patients. We therefore reviewed the literature on all available information about the epidemiology, diagnosis, isolation and treatments of COVID-19. Treatments, including antiviral agents, chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, corticosteroids, antibodies, convalescent plasma transfusion and vaccines, will be discussed in this article. Additionally, registered trials about treatment were listed to develop approaches for the current urgent demand for therapy.

Keywords

COVID-19, Pandemic, Diagnosis, Isolation, Remdesivir, Clinical trials

Chronic Kidney Disease Is Associated With Severe Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Infection

International Urology and Nephrology

Henry, Brandon Michael; Lippi, Giuseppe

Editor,

As the novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak expands, identification of predictive factors for severe infection is essential to enable risk stratification, optimize reallocation of hospital resource, and guide public health recommendations and interventions. Chronic Kidney disease (CKD) is associated with an increased risk of both inpatient and outpatient pneumonia. Moreover, the pneumonia-related mortality rate in CKD patients seems to be 14–16 times higher than in the general population. In this article, we aim to explore the potential association between CKD and severity of COVID-19 infection.

Keywords

Clinical aspects, diagnosis, treatment

Arthralgia as an initial presentation of COVID-19: observation

Rheumatology International

Joob, Beuy; Wiwanitkit, Viroj.

Dear Editor,

Arthralgia is an important clinical complaint seen in many virus infections. For a new emerging disease from China, COVID-19, the data on the rheumatic manifestation are limited. In a clinical epidemiology report published in Lancet, no data on joint complaint of the patients are mentioned. Here, the authors would like to share observation from Thailand, the second country where the disease exists. In Thailand, at present (28 February 2020), there are 40 patients. Of these 40 patients, at least one patient (2.5%) presented with joint pain complaint. The case is a female patient who initially presented with high fever and low platelet count was observed…

Keywords

COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Treatment

COVID-19 In Children: More Than Meets The Eye

Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease

Hagmann, Stefan H. F.

Abstract

The novel Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has so far resulted in more than 300,000 reported confirmed cases of Coronavirus virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and about 15,000 deaths. Today's very high degree of international interconnectedness and mobility has favored the truly rapid global spread of this novel virus as COVID-19 cases have been so far reported from almost every country on earth (190 out of 195 countries recognized by the United Nations). Severe respiratory illness and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), mostly observed in older adults, that have in many instances in several countries overloaded hospital capacities have so far dominated the media reports and the clinical literature on COVID-19.

Keywords

SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, Children, Morbidity

The Effects Of Misleading Media Reports About COVID-19 On Chinese Tourists Mental Health: A Perspective Article

Anatolia

Zheng, Yi; Goh,Edmund; Wen, Jun.

Abstract

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has been declared a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization. This pandemic has since saturated the headlines of major international media channels that disseminate information to global citizens. However, some media coverage of COVID-19 has negatively influenced Chinese travellers’ mental health due to the outbreak having been labelled “Chinese virus pandemonium.” Key world leaders have also parroted such sensationalism; for example, President Donald Trump called COVID-19 the “Chinese virus”. This discriminatory labelling has resulted in violent attacks on Chinese international travellers and students. This perspective article explores how misleading and discriminatory media reports may affect the mental well-being of ethnically Chinese travellers during the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords

COVID-19 outbreak, misleading information, media coverage, mental health, psychological well-being

Would everyone wearing face masks help us slow the pandemic?

Science

Servick, Kelly.

Introduction

As cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) ballooned last month, people in Europe and North America scrambled to get their hands on surgical masks to protect themselves. Health officials jumped in to discourage them, worried about the limited supply of masks for health care personnel. “Seriously people-STOP BUYING MASKS!” began a 29 February tweet from U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams. The World Health Organization and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have both said that only people with COVID-19 symptoms and those caring for them should wear masks. But some health experts, including the director of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, think that’s a mistake. Health authorities in parts of Asia have encouraged all citizens to wear masks in public to prevent the spread of the virus, regardless of whether they have symptoms. And the Czech Republic took the uncommon step last week of making nose and mouth coverings mandatory in public spaces, prompting a grassroots drive to hand-make masks.

Keywords

COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Treatment

In Other Covid-19 News

The Veterinary Record
Volume 186, Issue 12, Pages 370-370

Introduction

Vet practices are putting aside human-compatible ventilators, oxygen supplies and personal protective equipment such as surgical masks, as well as anaesthetic machines and monitors, for use in saving human lives. The scheme has been promoted by the RCVS, the BVA and several other veterinary associations and businesses.

Keywords

Epidemiology

Papa Giovanni XXIII Bergamo Hospital At The Time Of The COVID-19 Outbreak: Letter From The Warfront

International journal of laboratory hematology

Buoro, Sabrina; Di Marco, Fabiano; Rizzi, Marco; Fabretti, Fabrizio; Lorini, Ferdinando Luca; Cesa, Simonetta; Fagiuoli, Stefano

Abstract

In early December 2019, the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) was identified as the agent responsible for the first pneumonia cases of unknown origin in Wuhan, the capital of the Hubei region in China. The virus has been identified as a novel enveloped RNA betacoronavirus2 , that has been promptly named SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2). The World Health Organization (WHO), on January 12, 2020 declared the COVID-19 a public health emergency of international concern. On March 11, the WHO made the assessment that COVID-19 can be characterized as a pandemic.

Keywords

Clinical aspects, diagnosis, treatment; Epidemiology

La maldita pandemia: una oportunidad para la Atención Primaria de Salud

Medicina de Familia. SEMERGEN

Llisterri Caro, J. L.

Introduction

La maldita pandemia: una oportunidad para la Atención Primaria de Salud
The damn pandemic: An opportunity for Primary Health Care

 (Article in Spanish)

COVID 2019 Outbreak: The disappointment in Indian Teachers

Asian Journal of Psychiatry
Volume 50, April 2020, 102047

Bhat, Ritesh; Singh, Varun Kumar; Naik, Nithesh; Kamath C, Raghavendra; Mulimani, Prashant; Kulkarni, Niranjan.

Introduction

Coronavirus disease or commonly known as COVID19 is the news of every single second since it originated from Wuhan, China (Wang et al., 2020), which is declared as a pandemic disease by World Health Organization, said to be caused by a new strain of the virus. The disease is said to spread through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose of an infected person, particularly when he/she sneezes or coughs (World Health Organization, 2020). Though the human coronaviruses have been recognized now for many years, the lack of immunity to the identified new strain, there is a large portion of the population susceptible to it (Goyal et al., 2020). Besides, the latest trend of the exponential increase in the infected people, with a steep rise of 69.17 % within three days from 21st March 2020 to 23rd March 2020 (Kiprosh, 2020), and because of the lack of preventive vaccine (El Zowalaty and Järhult, 2020), there has been a high panic situation amongst the local public.

Clinical Analysis Of Pregnant Women With 2019 Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia

Journal of Medical Virology

Chen, Siyu; Liao, E.; Shao, Yong

Abstract

The aim is to evaluate pregnant women infected with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) and provide help for clinical prevention and treatment. All five cases of pregnant women confirmed COVID‐19 were collected among patients who admitted to the Maternal and Child Hospital of Hubei Province between January 20 and February 10, 2020. All patients, aging from 25 to 31 years old, had the gestational week from 38th weeks to 41st weeks. All pregnant women did not have an antepartum fever but developed a low‐grade fever (37.5℃‐38.5℃) within 24 hours after delivery. All patients had normal liver and renal function, two patients had elevated plasma levels of the myocardial enzyme. Unusual chest imaging manifestations, featured with ground‐grass opacity, were frequently observed in bilateral (three cases) or unilateral lobe (two cases) by computed tomography (CT) scan. All labors smoothly processed, the Apgar scores were 10 points 1 and 5 minutes after delivery, no complications were observed in the newborn. Pregnancy and perinatal outcomes of patients with COVID‐19 should receive more attention. It is probable that pregnant women diagnosed with COVID‐19 have no fever before delivery. Their primary initial manifestations were merely low‐grade postpartum fever or mild respiratory symptoms. Therefore, the protective measures are necessary on admission; the instant CT scan and real‐time reverse‐transcriptase polymerase‐chain‐reaction assay should be helpful in early diagnosis and avoid cross‐infection on the occasion that patients have fever and other respiratory signs.

Keywords

Clinical aspects, diagnosis, treatment; Epidemiology

Italy in a Time of Emergency and Scarce Resources: The Need for Embedding Ethical Reflection in Social and Clinical Settings

The Journal of Clinical Ethics
Volume 31, 2020, Issue 1, pp 92-94

Nicoli, F., Gasparetto, A.

Abstract

The COVID-19 virus is severely testing the Italian healthcare system, as the requests for intensive treatment are greater than the real capacity of the system to receive patients. Given this emergency situation, it follows that citizens are limited in their freedom of movement in order to limit infection, and that in hospitals a significant number of critical situations must be faced. This brief contribution aims to offer a reflection on the public and clinical role of the bioethicist: a figure able to promote dialogue between the world of medicine and the community, and to face ethical dilemmas even in emergent clinical settings.

Keywords

Epidemiology; Ethics, social science, economics

Therapeutic opportunities to manage COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2 infection: Present and future

Indian Journal Of Ophthalmology

Shetty, Rohit; Ghosh, Arkasubhra; Honavar, Santosh G.; Khamar, Pooja; Sethu, Swaminathan.

Abstract

A severe form of respiratory disease - COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection, has evolved into a pandemic resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. The unabated spread of the disease is due to lack of vaccine and effective therapeutic agents against this novel virus. Hence, the situation demands an immediate need to explore all the plausible therapeutic and prophylactic strategies that can be made available to stem the spread of the disease. Towards this effort, the current review outlines the key aspects of the pathobiology associated with the morbidity and mortality in COVID-19 patients, which includes a viral response phase and an exaggerated host response phase. The review also summarizes therapeutic agents that are currently being explored along with those with potential for consideration. The broad groups of therapeutic agents discussed include those that: (i) block viral entry to host cells, (ii) block viral replication and survival in host cells, and (iii) dampen exaggerated host immune response. The various kinds of pharmaceutical prophylactic options that may be followed to prevent COVID-19 have also been discussed.

Keywords

COVID‑19, prophylaxis, SARS‑CoV‑2, therapy

A Strange New World

New Scientist
Volume 245, Issue 3275, 28 March 2020, Page 5

Introduction

The new coronavirus may be upending our lives, but we aren't helpless against it.

HARD times lie ahead. Not only do we all have to contend with the threat of covid-19 itself, and its economic fallout, but as nations lock down movement outside our homes, there are extra mental pressures to cope with too. Fortunately, there are constructive things we can do.

Keywords

Epidemiology

Possible Method for the Production of a Covid-19 Vaccine

The Veterinary Record
Volume 186, Issue 12, Pages 388-388

Myint, Aung; Jones, Trevor

Introduction

OVER a number of years we worked on genetically transformed Pasteurella multocida vaccines, experimenting on whether they could provide protection against a variety of animal and avian virus diseases. We think the methodology has potential for a Covid19 vaccine.

Keywords

Clinical aspects, diagnosis, treatment

Sourcing Personal Protective Equipment During the COVID-19 Pandemic

JAMA

Livingston, Edward; Desai, Angel; Berkwits, Michael

Introduction

As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic accelerates, global health care systems have become overwhelmed with potentially infectious patients seeking testing and care. Preventing spread of infection to and from health care workers (HCWs) and patients relies on effective use of personal protective equipment (PPE)—gloves, face masks, air-purifying respirators, goggles, face shields, respirators, and gowns. A critical shortage of all of these is projected to develop or has already developed in areas of high demand. PPE, formerly ubiquitous and disposable in the hospital environment, is now a scarce and precious commodity in many locations when it is needed most to care for highly infectious patients. An increase in PPE supply in response to this new demand will require a large increase in PPE manufacturing, a process that will take time many health care systems do not have, given the rapid increase in ill COVID-19 patients.

Keywords

Clinical aspects, diagnosis, treatment

Reply to “Does hand hygiene reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission?”

Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology

Lai, Tracy H. T.; Tang, Emily W. H.; Fung, Kitty S. C.; Li, Kenneth K. W.

Dear Editor,

We would like to thank Dr. Chao Yang’s comments to our article. We would like to emphasize that both face masking and hand hygiene are important in preventing the transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and are not mutually exclusive. According to the report of the WHO-China joint mission on COVID-19, COVID-19 is transmitted via droplets and fomites during close unprotected contact between an infector and infectee. Airborne spread has not been reported for COVID-19, and it is not believed to be a major driver based on currently available evidence. A recent study by Ong et al. obtained air and surface environmental samples from isolation wards of COVID-19 patients and found the air samples to be negative of SARS-CoV-2, but positive samples were found on multiple environmental surfaces. These sites included the table, bed rail, locker, chair, light switches, door, window, and surfaces in the toilet including the toilet bowl, sink, and door handle. Stool samples were also positive for SARS-CoV-2. Otter and his colleagues found that SARS-CoV and other coronaviruses can survive on environmental surfaces up to 6 days. Furthermore, it is not uncommon that healthcare workers, including ophthalmologists, may overlook the importance of hand hygiene, as frequent face touching is notoriously common that even medical students touched their faces 23 times per hour and 44% of those touches involved contact with mucous membranes.

Keywords

Infection prevention and control