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COVID-19 not likely passed from moms to babies through breast milk

University of California researchers studying the breast milk of 18 women with COVID-19 found coronavirus RNA—but not live virus—in 1 of 64 samples, suggesting that babies aren't likely to be infected through that route.

Report: 1 in 5 nursing homes face serious lack of PPE, staff shortages

A comprehensive review of data submitted by more than 15,000 US nursing homes revealed that about 20% faced a staff shortage or severe shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) in early July, months into the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study in Health Affairs yesterday.

40 million adults who work or live with children at risk for severe COVID-19

A research letter published late last week in the Annals of Internal Medicine has found that about 40 million US adults who work or live with school-aged children have definite or possible risk factors for severe COVID-19, carrying implications for fall school reopenings.

COVID-19 spread noted in 'healthy' concertgoers 2 days after infection

Seemingly healthy people with COVID-19 can spread the disease to others as soon as 2 days after infection, an analysis of a coronavirus cluster traced to four live music clubs in Osaka, Japan, shows.

Massachusetts study details role of super-spreading events in COVID-19

A new study by scientists in Massachusetts is highlighting the role that super-spreading events played in the spread of COVID-19 in the state.

Review of COVID studies links increased death to hydroxychloroquine plus azithromycin

A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies involving COVID-19 patients treated with hydroxychloroquine found that the antimalaria drug alone was not associated with reduced mortality in hospitalized patients, but when combined with the antibiotic azithromycin it was linked with significantly increased mortality, European researchers reported yesterday in Clinical Microbiology and Infection.

Coinfections with COVID-19, Candida auris confirmed in India

Scientists in New Delhi, India, report infections with worrisome multidrug-resistant Candida auris in 10 of 15 critically ill COVID-19 patients who also had candidemia over a span of several months, according to a report yesterday in Emerging Infectious Diseases.

US cell phone data: Staying home amid lockdowns may stem COVID-19

US counties with large declines in cell phone activity at workplaces, transit stations, and stores and concomitant increases in home activity during COVID-19 lockdowns had lower rates of coronavirus infections 5, 10, and 15 days later, according to a study published today in JAMA Internal Medicine.

US government has spent trillions on COVID-19 health, economic relief

In response to COVID-19, the US government sold $1.5 trillion in obligations such as bonds and spent $1.3 trillion on public health, homeland security, and economic relief by Jun 30, according to an update yesterday from the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

US experts recommend who should get COVID-19 vaccine first

Healthcare workers, first responders, and adults with pre-existing conditions that put them at risk for severe symptoms of COVID-19 should be the initial recipients of the first approved vaccine in the United States, according to a framework from the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) published yesterday. Today, NAM will hold a virtual public meeting on the recommendations.

Most US residents initially obeyed COVID-19 lockdowns, mobile data show

Residents ventured out about 98% less in most counties in the 42 US states and territories that issued stay-at-home orders to contain SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

Early trials of Russian COVID-19 vaccine show safety, immune response

Today The Lancet published the results of two nonrandomized trials (called Sputnik V) of a Russian COVID-19 vaccine candidate, which showed no serious adverse events and demonstrated that the vaccine elicited an antibody response in study participants within 21 days of administration. The phase 1/2 trials were conducted in 76 healthy adults.

Study: Acute kidney injury common in adults hospitalized with COVID-19

A new study published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology shows that 46% of hospitalized adults with severe COVID-19 suffer from acute kidney injury (AKI), and AKI was associated with a 50% mortality rate.

Study shows lower case-fatality rate in COVID-19 second wave

A new study in Transboundary and Emerging Disease calculated the case-fatality rate (CFR) of COVID-19 infections in 53 countries or regions that experienced a second wave—or resurgence—of coronavirus activity, and found a significantly lower death rate among all confirmed cases than in the first wave.

This is the first study to compare the CFR in the first and second waves of the pandemic. 

Survey: 41% of Americans have avoided medical care because of COVID-19

Results of a nationwide survey today show that 40.9% of Americans have avoided medical care because of the novel coronavirus pandemic, including 12.0% who avoided emergency care and 31.5% who avoided routine care. The results are published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).

Heart inflammation found in athletes after mild, asymptomatic COVID-19

Four of 26 competitive athletes (15%) who had recovered from mild or asymptomatic COVID-19 had evidence suggestive of myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart muscle, on cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging, according to a research letter published today in JAMA Cardiology.

Higher pandemic death rate found in Hispanics, older adults, less educated

A study of pandemic deaths in California in JAMA Internal Medicine today found the highest excess mortality in older adults, black and Hispanic residents, and those without college degrees. Excess death rates for Hispanic residents and those without a high school degree more than tripled after reopening, likely due to increased COVID-19 risk faced by low-wage, essential workers.

Researchers highlight sharp drop in US hospital COVID-19 death rates

A study in JAMA Internal Medicine today demonstrates a sharp decline in US hospital COVID-19 mortality rates during the first 6 months of the pandemic, with wide variation across hospitals and poorer outcomes linked to higher county-level case rates.  

Study finds 12.6% mortality among hospitalized COVID-19 patients

A multistate analysis of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in the American Journal of Epidemiology yesterday found that 12.6% of patients died, with blacks especially hard hit.

Hospital air frequently contaminated with COVID-19, study finds

A study of hospital air contamination in JAMA Network Open last week found that 17.4% of air samples from environments near COVID-19 patients were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA, the virus that causes COVID-19, but only 8.6% contained viable virus.

Age, race, income linked to rates of telehealth visits in COVID pandemic

Older people, Asians, and those with Medicaid coverage and preference for a non-English language at one US hospital system had fewer completed telemedicine visits than their peers during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study of patients scheduled for primary care or specialty telehealth visits at the University of Pennsylvania.

Hospital-acquired infections complicate COVID-19 recovery

An Italian study in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy yesterday found that 21.9% of hospitalized COVID-19 patients acquired bacterial or fungal superinfections—infection by a secondary pathogen—that complicated the course of their recovery.

7-day quarantine may work for some COVID household contacts

Interim study results published late last week in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) found that only 19% of people exposed to a COVID-19 patient in their home who had no symptoms nor a positive test result in the first 7 days of the patient's illness later tested positive—lending support for recently changed Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines.

High antibiotic prescribing rates found in COVID-19 patients

A rapid review and meta-analysis of studies involving more than 35,000 COVID-19 patients has found that three-quarters received antibiotics even though fewer than 10% had a bacterial co-infection, Canadian researchers reported today in Clinical Microbiology and Infection.

Recovered COVID patients may have immune memory for up to 8 months

In a US study published today in Science, researchers detected immune memory to SARS-CoV-2 across all immune cell types studied for as long as 8 months after patients became ill with COVID-19.