Long COVID Research Includes Unprecedented Patient Involvement: NIH
As about 1 in 5 US adults with COVID-19 go on to develop long COVID. Long COVID studies including RECOVER, have amassed data on more than 200,000 long COVID cases identified in electronic health records. Searching for patterns in these records has helped scientists identify key risk factors for long COVID, as well as some of the most common symptoms. Full Access: Medscape
AAP recommends antibiotic alternatives during amoxicillin shortage
As the national amoxicillin shortage worsens, the American Academy of Pediatrics released a guidance on November 21st detailing its recommendations for alternative therapies.Â
The priority should be amoxicillin formulations that have not been affected by the shortage, such as 500 milligram and 875 milligram tablets, 250 milligram and 500 milligram capsules and 250 milligram chew tabs. The organization added that tablets and capsules can be crushed and mixed with food “like applesauce.” Full Access: AAP
COVID-19 Monoclonal Antibody Treatments No Longer Effective
The number of medications available to treat COVID-19 continues to get smaller as the coronavirus changes to outsmart treatments. The FDA said last week that bebtelovimab, a monoclonal antibody drug, is no longer authorized because it is not effective against the leading strains of COVID-19. The FDA announcement stated that antiviral treatments, including remdesivir, Paxlovid, and Lagevrio, are all still options for patients at high risk for a severe case of COVID-19. Full Access: Medscape
Zinc for Patients with COVID-19?
In a randomized, blinded, multicenter study in Tunisia, oral zinc demonstrated a beneficial effect on COVID-19 progression, particularly in hospitalized patients with severe disease.
At 30 days, the primary composite outcome (ICU admission or death) occurred in 10.4% and 16.7% of the zinc and placebo groups, respectively. Length of hospital stay was 3.5 days shorter in zinc recipients. Ambulatory patients who received zinc reported shorter duration of symptoms, but no reduction in need for hospital admission. Full Access: NJEM
