In the News

Hypokalaemia Is Associated With COVID-19 Severity, Need for Invasive Mechanical Ventilation

By Denise Baez

NEW YORK - September 18, 2020 -- There is a high prevalence of hypokalaemia among patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia, and is associated with disease severity and the need for invasive mechanical ventilation, according to a study published in the ...

SARS-CoV-2 Viral Load Predicts Mortality in Hospitalised With COVID-19 With, Without Cancer

By Denise Baez

NEW YORK -- September 17, 2020 -- High admission severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viral load predicts mortality in hospitalised patients with and without cancer, according to a study published in Cancer Cell.

Lars F. Westblade, MD,...

Azithromycin May Increase Risk of Cardiac Events Among Patients Using QT-Prolonging Drugs

A study published in JAMA Network Open found no association of cardiac events with azithromycin compared with amoxicillin, except among patients using other QT-prolonging drugs concurrently.

“Although azithromycin is a safe therapy, clinicians should carefully consider its use...

4C Mortality Score Predicts Risk of Death in Hospitalised Patients With COVID-19

By Denise Baez

NEW YORK -- September 15, 2020 -- An easy-to-use risk stratification score, dubbed the 4C (Coronavirus Clinical Characterisation Consortium) Mortality Score, can be used to accurately categorise patients hospitalised with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) as being at low...

New IDSA Guidelines on Optimal Use of SARS-CoV-2 Serologic Testing in a Variety of Settings

By Denise Baez

NEW YORK -- September 15, 2020 -- The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) has published evidence-based recommendations to assist clinicians, clinical laboratories, patients, and policymakers in decisions related to the optimal use of severe acute respiratory...

Small Study Shows Convalescent Plasma Is Safe for Paediatric Patients With Severe COVID-19

Convalescent plasma appears to be safe and possibly effective for children with life-threatening cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), according to a study published in Pediatric Blood and Cancer.

To date, no therapies have been proven safe and effective for children who...

Elevated Clotting Factor V Levels Linked to Worse Outcomes in Severe COVID-19 Infections

Patients hospitalised with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who have high levels of the blood clotting protein factor V are at elevated risk for serious injury from blood clots such as deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism, according to a study published in the American Journal...

Asthma May Not Be a Significant Risk Factor for Severe COVID-19

A research letter published online in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society concluded that asthma may be an overestimated risk factor for hospitalisation due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Fernando Holguin, MD, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora,...

Characteristic Chest Radiographic Pattern Highly Predictive of COVID-19

The presence of patchy and/or confluent, band-like ground glass opacity or consolidation in a peripheral and mid-to-lower lung zone distribution on a chest radiograph is highly suggestive of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, and should be used in conjunction...

Mannose-Binding Lectin Is Associated With Thrombosis, Coagulopathy in Severe COVID-19

Researchers have identified a mechanism they believe explains why so many critically ill patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have an increased risk of thromboembolic complications despite pharmacological thromboprophylaxis.

In a cohort of 65 patients with severe COVID-19 in...