Coronavirus (COVID-19) Collection
Third of patients have gustatory dysfunction 9 months after SARS-CoV-2 infection: the ANOSVID study
Olfactory and/or gustatory dysfunctions (OGD) are specific symptoms of COVID-19 (Salmon Ceron et al., 2020). Olfactory (OD) dysfunction have drawn considerable attention in the beginning of the pandemic, more than gustatory dysfunction (GD) (Klopfenstein et al., 2020; Parma et al., 2020). However, OGD's impact on quality of life seems to be majority due to GD (Coelho et al., 2021) which is defined as partial (hypogeusia) or complete (ageusia) loss of taste. Questions about COVID-19 GD remain, especially GD duration and the proportion of patients with persistent GD (Hopkins et al., 2021).Genomic profiles of vaccine breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 strains from Odisha, India
In India, five COVID-19 vaccines are authorized for emergency use, of which the adenovirus-vector based vaccine from Oxford University and AstraZeneca UK, marketed as COVISHIELD, and the indigenous inactivated virus vaccine COVAXIN by Bharat Biotech are majorly deployed through government and private healthcare centers. Both the vaccines pose tolerable safety outcomes and enhanced immune responses (Ella et al., 2021; Voysey et al., 2021). Recent in vitro studies showed that sera from the Pfizer- or the AstraZeneca-vaccinated individuals are less effective in neutralizing the Delta variant compared with the Alpha (B.1.1.7) variant (Planas et al., 2021).Decreased severity of the Omicron variant of concern: further evidence from Italy
We are currently facing a COVID-19 pandemic ongoing wave because of the Omicron variant, owing to its very high transmissibility with a doubling time between 1.5 to 3 days (Pascarella et al., 2021).COVID-19 vaccination and SARS-CoV-2 Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant: a light at the end of the tunnel?
We read with interest the recent article of Abdullah et al., who concluded that a significantly lower severity of illness associated with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron B.1.1.529 variant-driven epidemic wave had been observed in Tshwane, South Africa (Abdullah et al., 2021). This agrees with evidence recently published in other studies from South Africa, the United States, and the United Kingdom (Mahase, 2021), which also reported a similar suggestion of decreased pathogenicity associated with this new and highly mutated Omicron lineages (Lippi, Mattiuzzi and Henry, 2021).Revisiting SARS-CoV-2 environmental contamination by patients with COVID-19: The Omicron variant does not differ from previous strains
SARS-CoV-2 was shown to be transmitted mainly by respiratory droplets and direct contact with contagious individuals. Previously, we characterized this transmissibility through contaminated inanimate surfaces, which is indirect contact (Ben-Shmuel et al., 2020). Recently, emergence of the Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant caused a global surge in new cases, rapidly spreading while seemingly causing an altered, less severe disease (Araf et al., 2022; Kannan et al., 2021). The infection rate raised concerns regarding the variant's mode of spread in the populace.Number of initial symptoms is more related to long COVID-19 than acute severity of infection: a prospective cohort of hospitalized patients
Post–COVID-19 symptoms experienced by many survivors after infection have a further devastating effect. Reports of risk factors of long COVID-19 are rising, but data including reliable assessment of persistent symptoms through structured face-to-face follow-up visits are scarce (Halpin et al., 2021). Here we report a study assessing risk factors associated with post–COVID-19 symptoms in hospitalized patients, including those requiring intensive care unit (ICU) transfer 4 months after admission. We also provide data on objective measures of COVID-19 severity, for example, oxygen requirement, inflammatory biomarkers, and radiologic findings.Exported cases were infected on the way: A conjecture derived from analysis on Hong Kong monthly exported COVID-19 cases
During this COVID-19 pandemic, imported cases have played the role of triggering outbreaks in their arrival city and exported cases are used to infer the infection risk in their departure city (Imai et al., 2020; Menkir et al., 2021). Hong Kong, as a hub of international travel, faced this situation in particular. However, we argue that in the current phase of the pandemic, the role of exported cases in inferring the infection risk in their departure city loses its power; we use Hong Kong, an international travel hub, as an example.Comparison of the clinical sensitivity and specificity of two commercial RNA SARS-CoV-2 assays
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers have developed several diagnostic assays for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is the gold standard for diagnosis of active SARS-CoV-2 infections because of its high sensitivity and specificity (Park et al., 2020). Automation in molecular diagnostics enables scaling of testing capacity, which is critical for enabling a large number of tests (Eigner et al., 2019).Antibody response after a third dose mRNA-1273 vaccine among vaccinated healthcare workers with two doses of inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine
Health care workers (HCWs) are at the frontline battling against the COVID-19 pandemic and are categorized as a priority target group for COVID-19 vaccines. CoronaVac (Sinovac Life Sciences, China), an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, was the initially available vaccine platform and primarily administered to Indonesian HCWs. Although previous clinical trial studies in China (Zhang et al., 2021) and Turkey (Tanriover et al., 2021) have evidenced the immunogenicity of 2-dose CoronaVac, the antibody levels predictive for SARS-CoV-2 protection has declined over time (Mok et al., 2021).Hospitalized patients with breakthrough COVID-19: Clinical features and poor outcome predictors
Vaccine breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection, that is, COVID-19 appearing in fully vaccinated patients, is an emerging challenge (Bahl et al., 2021). The severity of the disease in vaccinated patients has not often been described, and data are scarce regarding the groups most at risk and the prognosis and outcomes for patients who are hospitalized. (CDCMMWR, 2021; Tenforde et al., 2021).Independent risk factors of COVID-19 pneumonia in vaccinated Mexican adults
The availability of vaccines against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) represent a significant step toward ending the pandemic, and most COVID-19 vaccines confer close to 100% reduction in the risk of serious illness or death (Sharma et al. 2021). In Mexico, vaccination of the general population started in mid-February 2021, and by June 2021, 7 COVID-19 vaccines have received approval by health authorities for their application in Mexico: BNT162b2 (Pfizer, Inc./BioNTech), AZD1222 Covishield (AstraZeneca), Gam-COVID-Vac (National Center Gamaleya), CoronaVac (Sinovac Research and Development Co.), Ad5-nCoV Covidecia (CanSino Biologics Inc.), BBV152 Covaxin (Bharat Biotech International Limited), and Ad26.COV2-S (Janssen-Cilag).Exploring the trajectory recovery curve of the number of post-COVID Symptoms: The LONG-COVID-EXP-CM Multicenter Study
Evidence supports that between 35% to 60% of COVID-19 survivors will experience post-COVID-19 symptoms (Fernández-de-las-Peñas et al., 2021). The presence of post-COVID-19 symptoms is associated with worse quality of life (Malik et al., 2022). Almost 90% of studies investigating post-COVID-19 symptoms are cross-sectional (Fernández-de-las-Peñas et al., 2021; Malik et al., 2022). Longitudinal studies assessing symptoms at different follow-up up periods have provided heterogeneous results. Huang et al. (2021) reported a decrease of most post-COVID-19 symptoms, whereas Seeßle et al.COVID-19 and Lassa fever in Nigeria: A deadly alliance?
COVID-19 has become one of the most dangerous pandemics to cause severe problems for humanity in the past decades. SARS-CoV-2, a virus that causes COVID-19, emanated from China in December 2019, when public health officials alerted the World Health Organization (WHO) about pneumonia of an unknown etiology (WHO, 2021; Li et al., 2020). Subsequently, the disease rapidly spread worldwide. Nigeria faces a potential public health crisis owing to the synergistic epidemic of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases (Sherrard-Smith et al., 2020; Bouba et al., 2021).Severe Outcomes, Readmission, and Length of Stay Among COVID-19 Patients with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) are a broad group of conditions characterized by physical impairments and impairments in learning, language, and/or behavior that begin during the developmental period. Comorbidities, immune dysfunction, or difficulty in accessing health care may put individuals with IDD at greater risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes (Kamalakannan et al., 2021). Population-based studies have predominately evaluated mortality risk but not other outcomes including length of stay (LOS) and readmission (Clift et al., 2021; Karpur et al., 2021; Perera et al., 2020; Turk et al., 2020).Symptoms Experienced at the Acute Phase of SARS-CoV-2 Infection as Risk Factor of Long-term Post-COVID Symptoms: The LONG-COVID-EXP-CM Multicenter Study
The presence of symptoms after COVID range from 35% to 60% (Fernández-de-las-Peñas et al., 2021). Identification of risk factors is needed for early monitoring of individuals at a high risk of developing symptoms after COVID, yet present data are still limited (Iqbal et al., 2021). Potential identified risk factors described in former literature include female gender, more onset symptoms (higher symptom load), older age, longer hospital stay, and a higher number of co-morbidities (Yong et al., 2021).Comparing self-reported reactogenicity between adolescents and adults following the use of BNT162b2 (Pfizer-BioNTech) messenger RNA COVID-19 vaccine: a prospective cohort study
The BNT162b2 messenger RNA COVID-19 vaccine, widely used in more than 100 countries worldwide, has been shown to be safe and effective in protecting populations from the infection of SARS-CoV-2 (Polack et al., 2020; Thomas et al., 2021; Walsh et al., 2020). According to clinical trial data, more than 80% of BNT162b2 recipients reported post-vaccination adverse reactions such as pain and tiredness, although an extremely small proportion of these reactions required medical interventions (Polack et al., 2020).Bloodstream infections in hospitalized patients before and during the COVID-19 surge in a community hospital in the South Bronx
New York City's (NYC) public health system, which predominantly serves lower-income communities, bore the burden of care and had to ramp up services to respond to the rapidly evolving COVID-19 pandemic. An increase in critical-care beds, staffing, and equipment was integral to the response, especially in our hospital in the South Bronx, where the number of intensive care unit (ICU) beds were augmented from 34 to 195 (Uppal et al., 2020). Hospitalized patients with COVID-19 usually have severe/critical infection with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), shock, coagulopathies, and multiorgan failure (Zaim et al., 2020).Role of institutional, cultural and economic factors in the effectiveness of lockdown measures
Nothing is possible without men, but nothing lasts without institutions.The impact of the COVID-19 preventive measures on influenza transmission: molecular and epidemiological evidence
We quantify the impact of COVID-19-related control measures on the spread of human influenza virus H1N1 and H3N2.Utilisation of SARS-CoV-2 rapid antigen assays in screening asymptomatic hospital visitors: mitigating the risk in low-incidence settings
During the COVID-19 pandemic, while mandatory point-of-entry screening of hospital visitors for respiratory symptoms/fever has been widely implemented (Wee et al., 2021a), asymptomatic visitors may escape detection and have been implicated in nosocomial clusters (Passarelli et al., 2021). However, screening for COVID-19 among hospital visitors poses significant challenges. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is unsuitable for testing visitors, with long turnarounds preventing real-time processing of results (Passarelli et al., 2021).SARS-CoV-2 variants with T135I nucleocapsid mutations may affect antigen test performance
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), similar to other RNA viruses, continually mutates, and new variants appear and eventually become dominant. Several SARS-CoV-2 genes have a tendency to evolve, including those encoding the nucleocapsid (N) and spike (S) proteins (Dilucca et al., 2020) [Au?1]. By the end of December 2020, new SARS-CoV-2 variants with multiple accumulated mutations had emerged, and these variants of concern (VOCs) have reportedly been associated with increased transmissibility or decreased effectiveness of available diagnostic tools (Boehm et al., 2021) [Au?1].Negative effect of the second dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine in a significant percentage of individuals with previous COVID infection
Despite the efforts made since the beginning of the pandemic, the infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 is far from being under control. In the current situation, vaccines can be a turning point in the fight against the virus, and all countries attempt to encourage vaccination in their inhabitants, mainly in those groups with the highest risk.Emergence of B.1.1.318 SARS-CoV-2 viral lineage and high incidence of alpha B.1.1.7 variant of concern in the Republic of Gabon
SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOC) appear to spread more easily. Other emerging variants are also gaining attention, either known as a "variants of interest" (VOI) or "variants under investigation" (VUI), which increase transmission, warranting further studies. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the SARS-CoV-2 genomes have accumulated genetic diversity, leading to increased transmission with altered viral properties (Kraemer et al. 2021).Mutations in emerging variant of concern lineages disrupt genomic sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 clinical specimens
Genomic sequencing of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has played a crucial role in managing the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This is especially true for variant of concern (VOC) lineages that have emerged globally since December 2020 (Chand et al., 2020; Cherian et al., 2021; Faria et al., 2021; Tegally et al., 2021a, 2021b; Rambault et al., 2020). Genomic sequencing has been instrumental in detecting and characterizing these lineages, tracking their global spread, and identifying local cases to control transmission.Emerging socio-economic disparities in COVID-19-related deaths during the second pandemic wave in Germany
During the first pandemic wave of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) from early March to mid-May 2020, the regional socio-economic patterning of infections in Germany differed from that reported from other high-income countries, revealing lower infection rates in socio-economically deprived areas of Germany in the early phase of the first wave (Wachtler et al., 2020a,b). However, during the second pandemic wave from late September 2020 to early March 2021, this pattern reversed, so that Germany's more deprived areas ended up with higher infection rates as of the end of 2020 (Hoebel et al., 2021).
