COVID-19

New longitudinal data support bolstered use of booster doses among health care workers in US nursing homes.

This novel concept can benefit patients and clinicians alike by appropriately applying new technologies to identify bacteria more efficiently and decrease the time to optimal therapy.

Meta-analysis data show female, Black and Asian participants are generally underrepresented across studies assessing COVID-19 prevention or treatment strategies.

The indication makes tocilizumab the first monoclonal antibody to be granted full FDA approval to treat the pandemic virus.

New surveillance data from the 2021-22 influenza show the impact of coinfection among younger patients.

Almost 4 years since the beginning of the pandemic, continuous research efforts have begun to paint a better picture of the impact the virus has on the brain and the central nervous system.

The investigators also found an increase in the proportions of monthly hospitalizations during the pandemic for a number of disorders, including anxiety, depression, and suicidality or self-injury.

There was also higher neutralizing antibody titers against BA.4/5 with a lower hazard risk in the group with a breakthrough infection.

Wendy Wright, DNP, ANP-BC, FNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN, FNAP, and Madeline King, PharmD, BCIDP, provide insight on vaccine hesitancy among patients and the importance of increasing vaccine uptake to protect against SARS-CoV-2.

Rodney Rohde, SV, SM, MB (ASCP), FACSc, discusses the regression in combating antimicrobial resistance in the US because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jacinda Abdul-Mutakabbir, PharmD, comments on the importance of communicating the similarity of the bivalent booster vaccine safety profiles to patients.

Expert nurse practitioner Wendy Wright and Dr Madeline King share their approach to conversations with patients on optimizing SARS-CoV-2 booster vaccine administration.

Wendy Wright, DNP, ANP-BC, FNP-BC, FAANP, FNAP, leads a discussion on monitoring long-term data for the safety and efficacy of the SARS-CoV-2 booster vaccines.

Drs Jacinda Abdul-Mutakabbir, Madeline King, Rodney Rohde, and expert nurse practitioner Wendy Wright provide insight on receiving the influenza vaccine concurrently with the SARS-CoV-2 booster shot, and comment on data on immune responses from the Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines.

Experts in the management of SARS-CoV-2 educate on CDC and FDA recommendations for approaching administration of booster vaccines, including those for special patient populations.

Wendy Wright, DNP, ANP-BC, FNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN, FNAP; Jacinda Abdul-Mutakabbir, PharmD; and Rodney E. Rohde, PhD, MS, SM(ASCP)CM, SVCM, MBCM, FACSc; review what encompasses a bivalent vaccine and give their perspective on how to communicate the role of the vaccine in optimizing protection for patients.

Rodney E. Rohde, PhD, MS, SM(ASCP)CM, SVCM, MBCM, FACSc, leads a discussion on the constant evolution of SARS-CoV-2 variants and the impact on vaccine and booster shot development and administration.

Jacinda Abdul-Mutakabbir, PharmD; Wendy Wright, DNP, ANP-BC, FNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN, FNAP; and Madeline King, PharmD, BCIDP, examine the efficacy and real-world implications of the COVID-19 booster shot in terms of vaccination protection rates.

Wendy Wright, DNP, ANP-BC, FNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN, FNAP, leads a discussion on the challenges subvariants of SARS-CoV-2 present in terms of vaccination and approaching optimal communication to the public surrounding vaccination.

National deaths from heart disease spiked in 2020 in the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, after an observed steady decline from 2010 to 2019.

Approximately 1 out of every 6 patients with COVID-19 had a reduced eGFR.

New cohort analysis data suggest the risk of COVID-19 death is about 38% decreased among patients with the autoimmune disease.

In a late-breaking abstract, the investigators compared antibody levels at month 6 compared to month 1.

Jacinda Abdul-Mutakabbir, PharmD, discusses the difference between the original SARS-CoV-2 strain and subvariant strains.

The glycemic gap was a stronger predictor of in-hospital mortality among adults with diabetes or hyperglycemia hospitalized for COVID-19.

Paxlovid is effective in patients with existing heart disease, but has significant DDIs with commonly used cardiovascular medications.

A discussion regarding highlights from Dr. Michael Angarone’s presentation on emerging infectious diseases.

A recent study confirmed the safety of tralokinumab with regard to COVID-19 and related vaccinations.

A profound escalation in the frequency of nightmares, independently associated with suicide risk, occurred alongside related sleep and mental health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The majority of patients treated with systemic therapies were treated with dupilumab, while 3.2% patients received a combination of systemic therapies.