31st European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ECCMID 2021)

Adding azithromycin to standard care yields no survival benefit in ambulatory managed COVID-19

Roshini Claire Anthony, 20210824180001

The addition of azithromycin to standard care did not reduce hospitalization or mortality risk in patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 who underwent ambulatory management, according to results of the ATOMIC2 trial presented at ECCMID 2021.

CoronaVac: Does it work against the Gamma variant?

Pearl Toh, 20210803143500

The CoronaVac vaccine shows significantly reduced neutralizing activity against the Gamma variant (previously known as P.1) of SARS-CoV-2 — indicating that the variant may be able to escape immune response in fully vaccinated people as well as reinfect those who had recovered from COVID-19, according to an immunological study presented at ECCMID 2021.

Antigen rapid tests: The new COVID-19 strategy moving forward?

Roshini Claire Anthony, 20210731180001

Same-day pre-event screening for SARS-CoV-2 using antigen-detecting rapid diagnostic tests (Ag-RDT) may enable the resumption of large-scale indoor events which were halted or had their attendance capacity reduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study from Spain presented at ECCMID 2021.

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

Elvira Manzano, 20210729230000

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.

Antigen rapid test vs RT-PCR for COVID-19: What you need to know

Pearl Toh, 20210729143500

While RT-PCR is the current gold standard to confirm a SARS-CoV-2 infection, antigen rapid test (ART) for COVID-19 allows for quick detection of SARS-CoV-2 and thus fast triaging of infected patients requiring isolation at the population level, according to studies presented at ECCMID 2021.

First dose of ChAdOx1, BNT162b2 vaccines may be protective in LTCF residents after 4 weeks

Roshini Claire Anthony, 20210726160001

Long-term care facility (LTCF) residents aged ≥65 years appeared to be protected from COVID-19 4–7 weeks after receiving their first dose of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 or BNT162b2 vaccine, according to a study presented at ECCMID 2021.

T-cell responses to BNT162b2 vaccine not weakened by methotrexate

Elvira Manzano, 20210726000000

Patients with psoriasis taking the immunosuppressant methotrexate had low antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 after receiving the first dose of Pfizer-BioNTech’s BNT162b2 vaccine but had shown T-cell responses, according to a study that was the first to look at T-cell responses in patients taking methotrexate.

Real-world data back remdesivir benefit for hospitalized COVID-19 patients

Audrey Abella, 20210723100000

Findings from real-world studies presented at ECCMID 2021 showed improved survival outcomes with remdesivir in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

Casirivimab/imdevimab tied to better outcomes than bamlanivimab/etesevimab in COVID-19 outpatients infected by Gamma variant

Elaine Soliven, 20210723000000

Treatment with casirivimab/imdevimab combination therapy appears to be associated with a reduced risk of hospitalization or death compared with bamlanivimab/etesevimab in outpatients with COVID-19 infected by the Gamma variant, according to a study presented at ECCMID 2021.

Regdanvimab shows potential for mild-to-moderate COVID-19

Audrey Abella, 20210721100000

The monoclonal antibody regdanvimab showed promise in the treatment of patients with mild-to-moderate* COVID-19, a pivotal phase II/III trial has shown.