Respirology

Metabolic syndrome linked to greater COVID-19 severity

Roshini Claire Anthony, Yesterday

Individuals with metabolic syndrome who are hospitalized for COVID-19 may have a greater risk for more severe COVID-19 disease, including an elevated risk of in-hospital mortality, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and intensive care unit (ICU) admission, a recent prospective study showed.

Aspirin does not cut death risk in hospitalized COVID-19 patients

Roshini Claire Anthony, 2 days ago

Adding aspirin to usual care did not lead to a reduced mortality rate in patients hospitalized with COVID-19, according to a study by the RECOVERY* Collaborative Group.

Which factors set off TB recurrence?

2 days ago

Recurrence interval is associated with the endogenous reactivation of tuberculosis (TB), according to the results of a meta-analysis. On the other hand, infection with Beijing family strains, coinfection with HIV, imprisonment, and immigration contribute to an increased risk of exogenous TB reinfection.

Early remdesivir treatment lowers risk of COVID-19 progression

Jairia Dela Cruz, 3 days ago

In the treatment of patients with COVID-19, administering remdesivir within 5 days of symptom onset appears to reduce the risk of progression to severe disease, as shown in a study.

CATALYST sparks signals favouring namilumab for COVID-19

Audrey Abella, 3 days ago

In the phase II proof-of-concept CATALYST trial comparing the GM-CSF* inhibitor namilumab and the TNF** inhibitor infliximab against usual care (UC), namilumab, but not infliximab, demonstrated signals for reducing inflammation in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 pneumonia.

Asians bare unique genetic profile of KRAS-mutated NSCLC

Tristan Manalac, 3 days ago

Nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with mutations in the KRAS gene show a unique genetic and clinical profile in Asian patients relative to Western counterparts, according to a recent study.

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.

ID NOW rapid molecular assay an effective COVID-19 test for kids

Rapid COVID-19 testing: Is it as good in kids?

Roshini Claire Anthony, 20 Oct 2021

A large retrospective study from the US, presented at IDWeek 2021, has shown that the Abbott ID NOW rapid molecular COVID-19 assay is highly sensitive and specific at detecting SARS-CoV-2 infection in a paediatric population.

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

Roshini Claire Anthony, 31 Jul 2021

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, 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.

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

Pearl Toh, 29 Jul 2021

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.

Lefamulin scores again in multilobar pneumonia

Lefamulin: An alternative to moxifloxacin in pneumonia treatment?

Pearl Toh, 01 Dec 2021

The pleuromutilin inhibitor lefamulin shows similarly high efficacy as moxifloxacin (a standard fluoroquinolone therapy for clearing bacterial pneumonia) regardless of whether it was for unilobar or multilobar pneumonia, according to pooled data of the LEAP* 1 and 2 studies.

Dupilumab benefits in kids with asthma hold out to 52 weeks

Pearl Toh, 28 Nov 2021

Dupilumab significantly continues to improve lung function — including measures of the large and small airways — out to 52 weeks in children with uncontrolled, moderate-to-severe asthma, according to 52-week data of the LIBERTY ASTHMA VOYAGE trial.

Subgroup findings boost dupilumab benefit for CRSwNP, comorbid asthma

Audrey Abella, 18 Nov 2021

In post hoc analyses of the phase III SINUS-24 and SINUS-52 trials, the monoclonal antibody dupilumab continued to render improvements for patients with severe chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), as well as among those with comorbid asthma regardless of asthma characteristics.

Prophylactic azithromycin may help prevent asthma attacks

Prophylactic azithromycin helps prevent asthma attacks

Pearl Toh, 13 Nov 2021

Prophylactic use of azithromycin was associated with significantly fewer infections and hospitalizations in patients with asthma, according to real-world data presented during the CHEST 2021 Congress.

Possible allergy reaction should not delay COVID-19 vaccination

Possible allergic reaction should not delay COVID-19 vaccination

Pearl Toh, 10 Nov 2021

People who had an allergic response to the first dose of COVID-19 vaccination or who believe they will have an allergy to vaccination should not let their worries delay getting vaccinated — as most of them can still be fully vaccinated safely, suggest studies presented at ACAAI 2021.

Early, more frequent egg intake may prevent egg allergy in childhood

Pearl Toh, 06 Nov 2021

Late introduction of eggs, along with less frequent egg consumption, may place a child at increased risk of egg allergy during childhood, suggests a study presented at ACAAI 2021.

Adjuvant atezolizumab improves DFS in early-stage NSCLC

Roshini Claire Anthony, 27 Oct 2021

In patients with completely resected stage II–IIIA non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who had previously received adjuvant cisplatin chemotherapy, adjuvant atezolizumab extended disease-free survival (DFS), particularly in those with PD-L1 expression ≥1 percent on tumour cells, interim results of the phase III IMpower010 trial showed.