Infectious Disease Alert – April 1, 2021
April 1, 2021
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Clinical Outcomes in Pregnant Women with COVID-19
A meta-analysis and systematic review that included 24 studies mostly from China found that the rates of preterm birth and cesarean delivery were higher in women with COVID-19 compared to international averages.
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How to Safely Open Schools in the Time of COVID
Multiple SARS-CoV-2 transmission clusters were identified in schools in a Georgia school district, with educators often being the index cases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has provided recommendations for safely opening schools.
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Antibiotics — Less Is Better, Sometimes
In England, and likely in many other areas of the world, antibiotics still are given for longer than is necessary. Excessively long durations of antibiotic use do not help patients and risk leading to more resistant infections.
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Early Replacement of Central Venous Catheters Removed Because of Bloodstream Infection
In patients with bloodstream infection whose central venous catheter is removed, delaying insertion of a new catheter at a different site for > 3 days is not associated with better infection outcomes than is earlier catheter insertion.
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COVID, Lockdowns, and Dengue Fever
In areas where daytime-biting Aedes mosquitoes transmit dengue virus, lockdowns and stay-at-home orders can either increase or decrease the incidence of dengue fever — depending on whether there are more mosquitoes in the home or work environment.
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Babesiosis in the United States and Recommendations for Diagnosis and Management
Babesiosis has been increasing in frequency and geographic reach in the United States among individuals ≥ 65 years of age. The Infectious Diseases Society of America has released a new updated guideline assisting clinicians in the diagnosis and management of the potentially lethal infection.
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Herpes Zoster Vaccine — Effective but Underused
The adjuvanted recombinant herpes zoster vaccine is highly effective in practice, but it is vastly underused.
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Post-COVID-19 Long Haulers’ Disease May Mimic ME/CFS
Many patients with COVID-19, whether symptomatic or not, will go on to develop persisting symptoms that resemble those of myalgic encephalitis/chronic fatigue syndrome.
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Infectious Disease Alert Updates
Pasteurellosis Suspected in Asian Elephant Deaths; Negative-Strand Testing for COVID-19