International journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases
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Int. J. Infect. Dis. · Dec 2020
Meta AnalysisA systematic review and meta-analysis of published research data on COVID-19 infection fatality rates.
An important unknown during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been the infection fatality rate (IFR). This differs from the case fatality rate (CFR) as an estimate of the number of deaths and as a proportion of the total number of cases, including those who are mild and asymptomatic. While the CFR is extremely valuable for experts, IFR is increasingly being called for by policy makers and the lay public as an estimate of the overall mortality from COVID-19.
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Int. J. Infect. Dis. · Dec 2020
ReviewUse of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine in COVID-19: How good is the quality of randomized controlled trials?
We critically evaluated the quality of evidence and quality of harm reporting in clinical trials that evaluated the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) or chloroquine (CQ) for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). ⋯ In general, the quality of currently available evidence for the effectiveness of CQ/HCQ in patients with COVID-19 is suboptimal. The importance of a properly designed and reported clinical trial cannot be overemphasized amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and its dismissal could lead to poorer clinical and policy decisions, resulting in wastage of already stretched invaluable health care resources.
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Int. J. Infect. Dis. · Dec 2020
The impact of mask-wearing and shelter-in-place on COVID-19 outbreaks in the United States.
A hasty reopening has led to a resurgence of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the United States (US). We aimed to quantify the impact of several public health measures including non-medical mask-wearing, shelter-in-place, and detection of silent infections to help inform COVID-19 mitigation strategies. ⋯ Mask-wearing, even with the use of non-medical masks, has a substantial impact on outbreak control. A judicious implementation of shelter-in-place strategies remains an important public health intervention amid ongoing outbreaks.
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Int. J. Infect. Dis. · Dec 2020
Relationship of the cycle threshold values of SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction and total severity score of computerized tomography in patients with COVID 19.
Studies analyzing viral load in COVID-19 patients and any data that compare viral load with chest computerized tomography (CT) severity are limited. This study aimed to evaluate the severity of chest CT in reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-positive patients and factors associated with it. ⋯ Viral load was not a critical factor for hospitalization and mortality. Outpatients had considerable amounts of virus in their nasopharynx, which made them contagious to their contacts. Viral load is important in detecting early stages of COVID-19, to minimize potential spread, whereas chest CT can help identify cases requiring extensive medical care.
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Int. J. Infect. Dis. · Dec 2020
Pharmacokinetics of echinocandins in suspected candida peritonitis: A potential risk for resistance.
A possible increase in Candida resistance, especially in Candida glabrata, has been speculated according to poor diffusion of echinocandins to peritoneal fluid. ⋯ The results showed moderate penetration of echinocandins into the peritoneal fluid of these patients. These levels are below the threshold of resistance mutant selection published by other authors. This could justify a potential risk of resistance in patients with prolonged treatment with echinocandins and suboptimal control of abdominal infection.