scholarly journals Perinatal Transmission and Outcome of Neonates Born to SARS-CoV-2-Positive Mothers: The Experience of 2 Highly Endemic Italian Regions

Neonatology ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Manuela Capozza ◽  
Silvia Salvatore ◽  
Maria Elisabetta Baldassarre ◽  
Silvia Inting ◽  
Raffaella Panza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vertical Transmission ◽  
Perinatal Transmission ◽  
Clinical Findings ◽  
Nasopharyngeal Swab ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Postnatal Transmission ◽  
Italian Regions ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> COVID-19 is the disease caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, responsible of the pandemic declared in March 2020 and still ongoing. COVID-19 affects all ages but presents less complications and fatalities in children. Neonatal infections have rarely been reported worldwide, and vertical transmission is uncertain. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We conducted a prospective cohort study of all infants born to SARS-CoV-2-positive mothers admitted to 2 hospitals in South (Bari) and North (Varese) of Italy from April to December 2020. A molecular nasopharyngeal swab for SARS-CoV-2 using a reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was made at birth for all enrolled newborns to evaluate vertical transmission of infection. We also evaluated postnatal transmission with a second nasopharyngeal swab made at 1 month of life and described maternal and neonatal clinical findings and short-term outcomes. <b><i>Results:</i></b> 176/179 (97%) newborns were SARS-CoV-2 negative at birth and 151/156 (97%) infants were still negative at 1 month of life. All newborns were asymptomatic. Seventy percent of newborns were breastfed during hospitalization. At 1 month of life, 76% of infants were breastfed. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> According to our results, vertical and perinatal infection is very rare. Breastfeeding does not increase the risk of COVID-19 and should be encouraged.

scholarly journals Direct antivirals working against the novel coronavirus: azithromycin (DAWn-AZITHRO), a randomized, multicenter, open-label, adaptive, proof-of-concept clinical trial of new antivirals working against SARS-CoV-2—azithromycin trial

Trials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Iwein Gyselinck ◽  
◽  
Laurens Liesenborghs ◽  
Ewout Landeloos ◽  
Ann Belmans ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Standard Of Care ◽  
Ordinal Scale ◽  
Cytokine Signaling ◽  
Nasopharyngeal Swab ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Proof Of Concept ◽  
Open Label ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

Abstract Background The rapid emergence and the high disease burden of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 have created a medical need for readily available drugs that can decrease viral replication or blunt the hyperinflammatory state leading to severe COVID-19 disease. Azithromycin is a macrolide antibiotic, known for its immunomodulatory properties. It has shown antiviral effect specifically against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro and acts on cytokine signaling pathways that have been implicated in COVID-19. Methods DAWn-AZITHRO is a randomized, open-label, phase 2 proof-of-concept, multicenter clinical trial, evaluating the safety and efficacy of azithromycin for treating hospitalized patients with COVID-19. It is part of a series of trials testing promising interventions for COVID-19, running in parallel and grouped under the name DAWn-studies. Patients hospitalized on dedicated COVID wards are eligible for study inclusion when they are symptomatic (i.e., clinical or radiological signs) and have been diagnosed with COVID-19 within the last 72 h through PCR (nasopharyngeal swab or bronchoalveolar lavage) or chest CT scan showing typical features of COVID-19 and without alternate diagnosis. Patients are block-randomized (9 patients) with a 2:1 allocation to receive azithromycin plus standard of care versus standard of care alone. Standard of care is mostly supportive, but may comprise hydroxychloroquine, up to the treating physician’s discretion and depending on local policy and national health regulations. The treatment group receives azithromycin qd 500 mg during the first 5 consecutive days after inclusion. The trial will include 284 patients and recruits from 15 centers across Belgium. The primary outcome is time from admission (day 0) to life discharge or to sustained clinical improvement, defined as an improvement of two points on the WHO 7-category ordinal scale sustained for at least 3 days. Discussion The trial investigates the urgent and still unmet global need for drugs that may impact the disease course of COVID-19. It will either provide support or else justify the discouragement of the current widespread, uncontrolled use of azithromycin in patients with COVID-19. The analogous design of other parallel trials of the DAWN consortium will amplify the chance of identifying successful treatment strategies and allow comparison of treatment effects within an identical clinical context. Trial registration EU Clinical trials register EudraCT Nb 2020-001614-38. Registered on 22 April 2020

scholarly journals Persistent SARS-CoV-2-positive over 4 months in a COVID-19 patient with CHB

Open Medicine ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 749-753
Author(s):  
Wenyuan Li ◽  
Beibei Huang ◽  
Qiang Shen ◽  
Shouwei Jiang ◽  
Kun Jin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
The Novel ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Public Health Crisis ◽  
Oxygen Inhalation ◽  
New Strategy ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Specific Symptoms

Abstract In recent months, the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has become a major public health crisis with takeover more than 1 million lives worldwide. The long-lasting existence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has not yet been reported. Herein, we report a case of SARS-CoV-2 infection with intermittent viral polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-positive for >4 months after clinical rehabilitation. A 35-year-old male was diagnosed with COVID-19 pneumonia with fever but without other specific symptoms. The treatment with lopinavir-ritonavir, oxygen inhalation, and other symptomatic supportive treatment facilitated recovery, and the patient was discharged. However, his viral PCR test was continually positive in oropharyngeal swabs for >4 months after that. At the end of June 2020, he was still under quarantine and observation. The contribution of current antivirus therapy might be limited. The prognosis of COVID-19 patients might be irrelevant to the virus status. Thus, further investigation to evaluate the contagiousness of convalescent patients and the mechanism underlying the persistent existence of SARS-CoV-2 after recovery is essential. A new strategy of disease control, especially extending the follow-up period for recovered COVID-19 patients, is necessary to adapt to the current situation of pandemic.

scholarly journals Acute myelitis after SARS-CoV-2 infection: a case report

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kang Zhao ◽  
Jucun Huang ◽  
Dan Dai ◽  
Yuwei Feng ◽  
Liming Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Flaccid Paralysis ◽  
Clinical Findings ◽  
Lower Limbs ◽  
Nasopharyngeal Swab ◽  
Comprehensive Treatment ◽  
Nucleic Acid Testing ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Microbiological Test ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Post Infectious

AbstractWe report a case of acute myelitis in a patient infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). A 66-year-old man with coronavirus disease 2019 was admitted with acute flaccid paralysis of the bilateral lower limbs and urinary and bowel incontinence. All serum microbiological test results were negative, except for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid testing. Clinical findings indicated post-infectious acute myelitis. He received treatment containing ganciclovir, lopinavir/ritonavir, moxifloxacin, dexamethasone, human immunoglobulin, and mecobalamin. With a diagnosis of post-infectious acute myelitis and comprehensive treatment, paralysis of the bilateral lower extremities ameliorated. After two negative novel coronavirus RNA nasopharyngeal swab tests, he was discharged and transferred to a designated hospital for isolation and rehabilitation therapy.

scholarly journals Clinical and Laboratory Profiles of 75 Hospitalized Patients with Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Hefei, China

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zonghao Zhao ◽  
Jiajia Xie ◽  
Ming Yin ◽  
Yun Yang ◽  
Hongliang He ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cell ◽  
Treatment Effectiveness ◽  
Antiviral Treatment ◽  
Laboratory Data ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
Nasopharyngeal Swab ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Cell Counts ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

AbstractThe outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection began in December 2019 in Wuhan, and rapidly spread to many provinces in China. The number of cases has increased markedly in Anhui, but information on the clinical characteristics of patients is limited. We reported 75 patients with COVID-19 in the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC from Jan 21 to Feb 16, 2020, Hefei, Anhui Province, China. COVID-19 infection was confirmed by real-time RT-PCR of respiratory nasopharyngeal swab samples. Epidemiological, clinical and laboratory data were collected and analyzed. Of the 75 patients with COVID-19, 61 (81.33%) had a direct or indirect exposure history to Wuhan. Common symptoms at onset included fever (66 [88.0%] of 75 patients) and dry cough (62 [82.67%]). Of the patients without fever, cough could be the only or primary symptom. The most prominent laboratory abnormalities were lymphopenia, decreased percentage of lymphocytes (LYM%), decreased CD4+ and CD8+ T cell counts, elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Patients with elevated interleukin 6 (IL-6) showed significant decreases in the LYM%, CD4+ and CD8+ T cell counts. Besides, the percentage of neutrophils, CRP, LDH and Procalcitonin levels increased significantly. We concluded that COVID-19 could cause different degrees of hematological abnormalities and damage of internal organs. Hematological profiles including LYM, LDH, CRP and IL-6 could be indicators of diseases severity and evaluation of treatment effectiveness. Antiviral treatment requires a comprehensive and supportive approach. Further targeted therapy should be determined based on individual clinical manifestations and laboratory indicators.

scholarly journals Vertical Transmission

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 2
Author(s):  
Dena Lyras
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Vertical Transmission ◽  
Racial Groups ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Local Part ◽  
Rapid Dissemination ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
The Impact

As we begin 2020, Microbiology is dominating the news with the emergence and rapid dissemination of the novel coronavirus COVID-19. The impact of COVID-19 on public health, with significant financial, logistical and social repercussions, has quickly become apparent. As microbiologists we have an important role to play during this time because we can use our knowledge, expertise and experience to educate the community around us, and to reduce the panic that results from fear and misinformation. It is also critical that we ensure that racial groups are not stigmatised because of an infectious disease. A co-ordinated global effort is required to tackle this new infectious threat, and we are an important local part of this effort. It is also important to develop strategies that can be deployed when the next threat emerges, as it surely will.

scholarly journals How far Covid19 virus spread can be curbed by relaxing lockdown in different stages? -A study in Indian scenario

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arindom Chakraborty ◽  
Kalyan Das
Keyword(s):  
Simulated Data ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Time Points ◽  
Term Forecast ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
And Control ◽  
Near Future ◽  
Different Levels ◽  
Indian Scenario

ABSTRACTAfter the emergence of the first cases in Wuhan, China, the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) infection has rapidly spread out to other provinces, neighboring countries and finally has become a global terror. It is indeed a matter of serious concern to study the transmission dynamics of this virus. The potential and severity of an outbreak and providing critical information for identifying the type of disease interventions and intensity can be well understood by the unknown basic reproduction number. A stochastic model can be used to estimate this number with possible safeguard on uncertainties. It is essential to assess how the expensive, resource-intensive measures can contribute to the prevention and control of the 2019-nCoV infection and how long they should be maintained. A short-term forecast of incidences are often of high priority. The challenge is to forecast unseen “future” simulated data for three different scenarios at some time points. We estimate current levels of transmissibility, over variable time points under different levels of interventions and use that to forecast near-future incidence. The forecasted values of incidence can be used for determining the near future mortality also.

scholarly journals An atypical case: RT-PCR-negative, sero-positive covid-19 patient

Pneumologia ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 107-114
Author(s):  
William Suriady ◽  
Andika Chandra Putra ◽  
Wiwien Heru Wiyono ◽  
Mohammad Fahmi Alatas ◽  
Bettia Bermawi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
False Negative ◽  
Severe Pneumonia ◽  
World Health ◽  
Diagnostic Process ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Atypical Case ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization

Abstract The novel coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), has become a public health emergency of international concern. The first confirmed COVID-19 case in Indonesia was announced on 2 March 2020, and later on, 11,192 confirmed cases were reported as of 3 May. The World Health Organization has stated that performing a real-time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) specific for SARS-CoV-2 on specimens from the upper and the lower respiratory tracts, especially nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs, is the standard diagnostic procedure for COVID-19. In Indonesia, we also use other diagnostic tests, such as rapid antibody tests specific for SARS-CoV-2. Herein, we report an atypical case of COVID-19 and describe the diagnostic process, the clinical course, with progression to severe pneumonia on Week 3 of illness and the case management. We also try to highlight the possibility of false-negative RT-PCR tests.

scholarly journals A data-driven assessment of early travel restrictions related to the spreading of the novel COVID-19 within mainland China

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto Aleta ◽  
Qitong Hu ◽  
Jiachen Ye ◽  
Peng Ji ◽  
Yamir Moreno
Keyword(s):  
Mainland China ◽  
Behavioral Changes ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Metapopulation Model ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Effective Measure ◽  
Mobility Data ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Travel Restrictions ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

Two months after it was firstly reported, the novel coronavirus disease COVID-19 has already spread worldwide. However, the vast majority of reported infections have occurred in China. To assess the effect of early travel restrictions adopted by the health authorities in China, we have implemented an epidemic metapopulation model that is fed with mobility data corresponding to 2019 and 2020. This allows to compare two radically different scenarios, one with no travel restrictions and another in which mobility is reduced by a travel ban. Our findings indicate that i) travel restrictions are an effective measure in the short term, however, ii) they are ineffective when it comes to completely eliminate the disease. The latter is due to the impossibility of removing the risk of seeding the disease to other regions. Our study also highlights the importance of developing more realistic models of behavioral changes when a disease outbreak is unfolding.

scholarly journals Characterizing Two Outbreak Waves of COVID-19 in Spain Using Phenomenological Epidemic Modelling

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel López ◽  
Alberto Peinado ◽  
Andrés Ortiz
Keyword(s):  
Growth Model ◽  
Logistic Growth ◽  
Data Series ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Growth Trend ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
First Case ◽  
Logistic Growth Model ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

AbstractSince the first case reported of SARS-CoV-2 the end of December 2019 in China, the number of cases quickly climbed following an exponential growth trend, demonstrating that a global pandemic is possible. As of December 3, 2020, the total number of cases reported are around 65,527,000 contagions worldwide, and 1,524,000 deaths affecting 218 countries and territories. In this scenario, Spain is one of the countries that has suffered in a hard way, the ongoing epidemic caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, namely COVID-19 disease. In this paper, we present the utilization of phenomenological epidemic models to characterize the two first outbreak waves of COVID-19 in Spain. The study is driven using a two-step phenomenological epidemic approach. First, we use a simple generalized growth model to fit the main parameters at the early epidemic phase; later, we apply our previous finding over a logistic growth model to that characterize both waves completely. The results show that even in the absence of accurate data series, it is possible to characterize the curves of case incidence, and even construct short-term forecast in the near time horizon.

scholarly journals Recurrence of COVID-19 related symptoms and viral detection in patient discharged after complete recovery and test negativization

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chiara Vassallo ◽  
Francesca Pupo ◽  
Luca Marri ◽  
Chiara Schiavi ◽  
Francesca Giusti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Complete Recovery ◽  
Viral Reactivation ◽  
Nasopharyngeal Swab ◽  
Double Negative ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Lung Involvement ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Pcr Assay ◽  
Virus Escape ◽  
Novel Coronavirus

Since the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has declared pandemic, the possibility of recurrence of the disease after recovery has become a debated issue. We report a case of an 84-yearsold male patient who was admitted to our hospital for dyspnea and fever. Lab and clinical workout showed that he had COVID-19. After a full recovery of symptoms and a double negative nasopharyngeal swab of SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR assay, he was dismissed from the hospital. One month later, he developed again dyspnea and fever with lung involvement. Surprisingly, nasopharyngeal swab of SARS-CoV-2 was positive. Since he denied contacts with confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19, he probably experienced a reactivation of a persistent infection. The failed eradication of the virus could depend on both virus’ escape mechanisms and dysfunctional immune response. Further studies are needed to confirm the hypothesis of viral reactivation and to identify signs of an incomplete clearance.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document