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US hospitals saw healthcare-associated infections rise in 2020

A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that progress against healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), including those caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, took a step back in 2020.

Dexamethasone tied to lower risk of death, severe COVID-19

The corticosteroid dexamethasone was associated with a 56% lower risk of death and intensive care unit (ICU) admission among hospitalized COVID-19 patients and is safe to use in monitored diabetes patients, according to research presented at this week's Society for Endocrinology annual conference in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Louisiana becomes 29th state to confirm CWD after deer tests positive

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) has been confirmed for the first time in Louisiana, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) said late last week.

More stewardship strategies linked to fewer discharge antibiotics

An analysis conducted at hospitals in Michigan found that the more antibiotic stewardship strategies a hospital reported, the lower its overuse of antibiotics at discharge, researchers reported yesterday in Clinical Infectious Diseases.

Study: 3% of adults with COVID pneumonia develop new-onset dementia

Three percent of 10,403 adults with COVID-19 pneumonia were diagnosed as having new-onset dementia after a median of 182 days, a significantly higher proportion than that observed with other types of pneumonia, finds a study yesterday in Open Forum Infectious Diseases.

Molnupiravir reduces COVID-19 symptoms, virus by day 3, data show

Three new studies to be presented at the upcoming European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) conference at the end of the month demonstrate benefits of the antiviral molnupiravir against COVID-19 infections, including evidence that Merck's pill reduces symptoms of the SARS-CoV-2 virus by day 3 of administration.

Sensitivity of home COVID rapid antigen tests peaks 4 days after illness onset

The sensitivity of home rapid antigen COVID-19 tests peaks 4 days after symptom onset, suggesting that a negative antigen test should be followed by a second test in 1 or 2 days, according to a prospective study published today in JAMA Internal Medicine.

COVID in dorms led to roommate transmission 20% of the time, study says

Out of 574 multiple-occupancy dorm rooms, roommate transmissions occurred only 20% of the time, according to a study during the fall 2020 semester at the University of Colorado Boulder.

CWD confirmed in 2 Minnesota deer, bringing 2020 total to 16

Two deer recently tested positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD), reports the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR), bringing the state's 2020 cases to 16 and total cases to 95.

CWD slowly spreading in Montana and Virginia

Chronic wasting disease (CWD), a fatal neurologic prion disease that affects members of the deer family, was detected in two cervids in Montana and Virginia. In 2019, 144 cases of CWD were reported in Montana and 1 case was reported in Virginia.

Different CWD strains in North America, Europe, researchers conclude

While both North America and Europe have detected chronic wasting disease (CWD) in cervids such as deer, the two continental strains are distinct, reports a study yesterday in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

Study: Bat SAR-CoV spillovers infect about 66,000 each year in virus hot spots

In the first known estimate of the SARS-CoV spillover risk from bats to people, researchers who studied bat populations in South East Asia and interactions with humans estimate that about 66,280 people a year are infected each year. The team, based at EcoHealth Alliance, published their findings today in Nature Communications.

22% of kids with COVID-19 or MIS-C had neurologic involvement in 2020-21

A study of US patients aged 0 to 20 years hospitalized for COVID-19 or multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) in 2020 and 2021 shows that 22% had a neurologic condition, including 9% with life-threatening illness.

High-flow oxygen not better than standard O2 in COVID respiratory failure

High-flow oxygen didn't significantly lower death rates beyond those of standard oxygen therapy in COVID-19 patients with respiratory failure, according to a multicenter randomized clinical trial published yesterday in JAMA.

First detection of CWD in new area of Minnesota triggers guidance update

For the first time, a wild white-tailed deer has been found with chronic wasting disease (CWD) in the city limits of Grand Rapids in northern Minnesota, triggering the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to update surveillance plans across the state.

For the first time, chronic wasting disease has been detected in white-tailed deer in Manitoba—previous detections were in mule deer.

Officials said wildlife biologists euthanized a buck with CWD symptoms at the Flathead County Landfill after receiving reports on the animal.

The state has activated its interagency CWD response plan to investigate the detection and increase surveillance of wild deer in the area.

The case is also only the second such detection in the state after CWD was found in a wild deer in Ballard County in 2023.

Further investigation revealed 3 additional deer with chronic wasting disease.

The 4- to 5-year-old doe, which had shown signs of illness, was found in Spring Lake, near the Dunn and St. Croix county borders.

The fatal neurodegenerative infection was confirmed in a hunter-harvested cow elk in Elk Hunt Area 28 in late December.

The disease was confirmed in a buck mule deer in Deer Hunt Area 90 in December.

The case was in a cow elk in Elk Hunt Area 122 harvested by a hunter in early November. 

COVID continues slow global decline but rises in Europe

In its latest weekly update on the pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) said today that global COVID-19 cases declined 6% last week compared to the previous week, though the pace of activity increased in the European region, which experienced an 8% rise compared to the week before.