Coronavirus%20disease%202019%20(covid-19) News

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Original New Drug Application Approvals by US FDA (16-31 May 2023)

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New drug applications approved by US FDA as of 16-31 May 2023 which includes New Molecular Entities (NMEs) and new biologics. It does not include Tentative Approvals. Supplemental approvals may have occurred since the original approval date.

Algorithm useful in evaluating COVID-19 reinfection cases in Singapore

Audrey Abella, 20230516100000

A study from Singapore demonstrated the usefulness of a systematic programme using combined microbiologic, serologic, and genomic criteria to assess possible COVID-19 reinfection cases.

COVID-19 oral antivirals HK real-world data

Fluvoxamine plus budesonide helps prevent severe COVID-19

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High-risk outpatients with early-onset COVID-19 who are treated with oral fluvoxamine plus inhaled budesonide have a reduced incidence of severe disease that warrants advanced care, reveals a study.

Molnupiravir cuts hospitalization, death in COVID-19 patients at high risk of progression

Audrey Abella, 20230504100000

An emulation of a randomized target trial suggests that molnupiravir may reduce hospital admission or death in adults who have tested positive for COVID-19 during the predominance of Omicron who were at high risk of progression to severe disease.

How well did radiographers manage during the COVID-19 outbreak?

Audrey Abella, 20230503100000

In Singapore, diagnostic radiographers were able to cope with the high demands of the COVID-19 pandemic in terms of provision of information, supplies, and physical equipment, a survey shows. However, they were less prepared to manage human factors, such as mental health and staff morale.

Long COVID: What we have learned so far

Prof. Ghassan Dbaibo, 20230427000000

The WHO defines long COVID as a condition that occurs 3 months from COVID-19 onset, whose symptoms last ≥2 months and cannot be attributed to an alternative diagnosis. In an interview with MIMS Doctor, Professor Ghassan Dbaibo of the Center for Infectious Diseases, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon, describes the evolving attitudes towards long COVID among healthcare professionals (HCPs), some unexpected predisposing factors, potential biological mechanisms behind prolonged symptom duration and shares data on vaccination’s protective effects against long COVID.

Long COVID profoundly affects patients' QoL

Audrey Abella, 20230421100000

In a functional assessment of post-COVID long-term sequelae, individuals suffering from long COVID (having at least one symptom of post-COVID-19 syndrome) had poorer quality of life (QoL) than those unaffected by the syndrome.

COVID-19 vaccine perception poor among SG drivers

Audrey Abella, 20230412100000

A substantial proportion of transport drivers in Singapore had poor vaccine perception, were hesitant to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, and were unwilling to receive the third dose (booster shot) despite the high vaccination coverage in the city-state, a cross-sectional pilot study reports.

Long COVID: What are the risk and protective factors?

Natalia Reoutova, 20230401000000

A population-based, multicentre study finds female gender, transportation-, logistics- or discipline-related occupation, living with domestic workers, smoking, poor or very poor self-perceived health status, ≥3 chronic diseases, chronic medication use, and critical severity of COVID-19 to be associated with severe long COVID, while prior receipt of ≥2 doses of COVID-19 vaccines serves as a protective factor.

Remdesivir cuts mortality in COVID-19 patients requiring no or low-flow oxygen

Audrey Abella, 20230330100000

In a systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis, the broad-spectrum antiviral agent remdesivir reduced mortality in adult patients hospitalized for COVID-19 who did not require oxygen support or only required low-flow supplementation when the need for oxygen arose.

Rapid antigen test: Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good

Pearl Toh, 23 Oct 2021

While rapid antigen test is less sensitive than conventional nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) such as RT-PCR* in detecting SARS-CoV-2 virus, “a test does not have to be perfect to be clinically useful,” said Professor Angela Caliendo during a session in IDWeek 2021 — echoing the maxim that perfect should not be the enemy of good in the pandemic era.

Combined Ag/Ab rapid testing boosts case-finding in COVID-19

Elvira Manzano, 29 Jul 2021

A rapid and affordable test for diagnosing COVID-19 outside the walls of the healthcare units could improve case-finding, contact tracing, and infection control, says an expert during a pre-ECCMID 2021 session.

Kids hard-hit by Delta; which ART performs best?

Elvira Manzano, 24 Oct 2021

That COVID-19 mostly spared children might be changing. The Delta variant has taken a severe, unthinkable toll on kids – at least in Arkansas, US, reports an expert at IDWeek 2021.