EFFECT OF SUBCUTANEOUS CASIRIVIMAB AND IMDEVIMAB ANTIBODY COMBINATION VS PLACEBO ON DEVELOPMENT OF SYMPTOMATIC COVID-19 IN EARLY ASYMPTOMATIC SARS-COV-2 INFECTION. A RANDOMIZED CLINICAL TRIAL
In this randomized clinical trial that included 314 SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcriptase–quantitative polymerase chain reaction–positive individuals living with an infected household contact, 29.0% of asymptomatic seronegative participants treated with subcutaneous casirivimab and imdevimab, developed symptomatic COVID-19 over 28 days vs 42.3% of those treated with placebo. This difference was statistically significant. Researchers reported a significantly reduced incidence of symptomatic COVID-19 among recently exposed, asymptomatic individuals.
Full Access: JAMA
ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE COULD TURN TREATABLE CONDITIONS DEADLY
Another urgent health crisis is waiting in the wings—a contagion of deadly bacteria that are increasingly becoming resistant to antibiotics. The more freely and widely antibiotics are used, the more bacteria evolve and adapt. Inevitably, some microbes morph into “superbugs” that are resistant to antibiotic treatment. But each year, 2.8 million American are stricken by bacteria that have evolved to become antibiotic – resistant, meaning the treatments we rely on to save lives no longer work. As the pandemic evolves, we must refocus on stewardship programs to slow the development and spread of superbugs before they become the next major global health threat.
Full Access: Health Affairs
COVID-19 THERAPEUTICS FOR NONHOSPITALIZED PATIENTS
For most individuals, nirmatrelvir-ritonavir will be preferred therapeutic because of its higher efficacy and the convenience of oral dosing. However, there will be circumstances in which nirmatrelvir-ritonavir should not be used because of serious drug interactions. In these patients, sotrovimab would be the preferred choice. If sotrovimab is not available, then remdesivir is a reasonable next option. The major advantage of remdesivir is a greater supply of the drug at this time; the main disadvantage is the need for intravenous infusion on 3 consecutive days.
Full Access: JAMA
DISCORDANT SARS-COV-2 PCR AND RAPID ANTIGEN TEST RESULTS WHEN INFECTIOUS: A DECEMBER 2021 OCCUPATIONAL CASE SERIES – This article has not been peer reviewed yet.
Researchers identified a high-risk occupational case cohort of 30 individuals with daily testing during an Omicron outbreak in December 2021. Based on viral load and transmissions confirmed through epidemiological investigation, most Omicron cases were infectious for several days before being detectable by rapid antigen tests. Study found that rapid antigen tests lagged in the ability to detect Covid-19 during an early period of disease when most individuals were infectious with Omicron. The policy implication is that rapid antigen tests may not be as fit-for-purpose in routine workplace screening to prevent asymptomatic spread of Omicron.
Full Access: MedRxiV