International journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases
-
Int. J. Infect. Dis. · Feb 2021
Comparative StudyComparing COVID-19 vaccine allocation strategies in India: A mathematical modelling study.
The development and widespread use of an effective SARS-CoV-2 vaccine could prevent substantial morbidity and mortality associated with COVID-19 and mitigate the secondary effects associated with non-pharmaceutical interventions. ⋯ Our findings support global recommendations to prioritize COVID-19 vaccine allocation for older age groups. Relative differences between allocation strategies were reduced as the speed of vaccine rollout was increased. Optimal vaccine allocation strategies will depend on vaccine characteristics, strength of concurrent non-pharmaceutical interventions, and region-specific goals.
-
Int. J. Infect. Dis. · Feb 2021
Asymptomatic patients as a source of transmission of COVID-19 in homeless shelters.
Asymptomatic carriers account for over a third of all Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) cases and are characterized by the absence of symptoms but the same infectivity as symptomatic infections. The high percentage of asymptomatic COVID-19 patients is significant in settings with specific vulnerabilities, such as homeless shelters, where the consequences of an outbreak may be dramatic. In this work, we briefly report our experience on residents and staff of homeless shelters in the City of Rome, Italy, with a particular focus on asymptomatic transmission, and compare it with the available evidence. ⋯ Our data confirm the importance of early identification of asymptomatic carriers that could, in vulnerable conditions such as homeless shelters, spread the infection and cause outbreaks with severe consequences on individual and public health.
-
Int. J. Infect. Dis. · Feb 2021
The economic and health burdens of diseases caused by group A Streptococcus in New Zealand.
In preparation for the future arrival of a group A Streptococcus (GAS) vaccine, this study estimated the economic and health burdens of GAS diseases in New Zealand (NZ). ⋯ Preventing GAS diseases would have substantial economic and health benefits in NZ and globally.
-
Int. J. Infect. Dis. · Feb 2021
Anakinra in hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia requiring oxygen therapy: Results of a prospective, open-label, interventional study.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of anakinra in patients who were admitted to hospital for severe COVID-19 pneumonia requiring oxygen therapy. ⋯ In patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia and high oxygen requirement, anakinra could represent an effective treatment option and may confer clinical benefit.
-
Limited testing capacity has characterized the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Spain, hampering timely control of outbreaks and opportunities to reduce the escalation of community transmission. This study investigated the potential to use sample pooling, followed by one-step retrotranscription and real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) to increase testing capacity for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). ⋯ Grouping samples into pools of five for RT-qPCR resulted in an increase in SARS-CoV-2 testing capacity with minimal loss of sensitivity compared with testing each sample individually.