Respiratory Infections

Even a mild COVID-19 infection can change the brain. People infected had a greater reduction in brain volume and performed worse on cognitive tests than those who did not contract COVID-19.

Associations between social determinants of health (SDOH) and COVID-19 mortality varied across racial and ethnic groups and community types.

One study found people were more likely to take the COVID-19 pandemic seriously when they saw the overall number of infections, as opposed to being presented with only new daily cases.

Minnesota hospitals established to care exclusively for COVID-19 patients saw lower rates of mortality than general hospitals.

A single-dose injection of nirsevimab before RSV season was proven to reduce infants’ risk of lower respiratory tract infection by 74.5%.

“COVID-19 need no longer control our lives,” President Biden said, detailing a plan to immediately provide free antiviral pills to anyone who tests positive.

Due to decreased efficacy against the Omicron variant, the FDA is now recommending approved populations receive a higher dose of Evusheld (tixagevimab and cilgavimab) for COVID-19 prevention.

This flu season, the CDC reported at least 2.4 million flu illnesses, 23,000 hospitalizations, and 1,400 deaths from flu so far.

A pair of studies released last weekend found the COVID-19 pandemic was caused by at least 2 zoonotic transmission events at the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan, China.

Among fully vaccinated people, being older than 60 years and having kidney failure were the only consistent predictors of severe COVID-19 disease and death.

The IDSA, HIVMA, and SHEA released a statement opposing legal intervention on behalf of ivermectin as a COVID-19 treatment.

Moderna was endorsed to begin phase 3 clinical trials for mRNA-1345, what could be the first respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine.

COVID-19 patients’ ZIP codes influenced how sick they were upon hospitalization, and how much care they needed after admittance.

A study of patients at high risk of severe COVID-19 disease progression found ivermectin was no more effective than standard care at preventing adverse outcomes.

Regular symptom screening revealed completely asymptomatic COVID-19 infection is highly unlikely among unvaccinated people.

Convalescent plasma safely raised antibody levels in children at high risk of severe or fatal COVID-19, successfully neutralizing the virus but unlikely to provide lasting protection.

32% of older adults had 1 or more new, persistent clinical conditions after COVID-19 infection.

Intranasal COVID-19 vaccines aren’t just needle and pain-free—they may also be more effective at protecting against current and future variants.

Omicron's numerous spike protein mutations caused mass concern, but one research team hypothesizes that its mutations are largely documented and thus susceptible to COVID-19 vaccination.

During spring 2021, when Alpha was the dominant COVID-19 variant, a midsized Midwestern university’s vaccination initiative was associated with a significant decrease in COVID-19 infections.

Triple COVID-19 vaccination or infection-plus-vaccination hybrid immunity induces high-quality antibodies, capable of neutralizing even the Omicron variant.

COVID-19 patients who were vitamin D deficient before infection were 14 times more likely to have severe or fatal COVID-19 disease.

The company’s filing for its NVX-CoV2373 vaccine is based off data from 2 large clinical trials.

BA.2, Omicron’s “cousin” variant, has been detected in the US. It initially appears to be more contagious, but not more dangerous.

The trend follows predictions that COVID-19 mitigation would lead to case reduction.

Nearly 75% of COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU were symptomatic 1 year later, most commonly reporting weakened condition and musculoskeletal problems.

Omicron is less effective at antagonizing host cell interferon response, explaining why it causes less severe disease than prior COVID-19 variants.

Gilead’s remdesivir was granted expanded FDA approval to treat non-hospitalized adult and adolescent patients at high risk of severe or fatal COVID-19 disease progression.

A recent study in Australia highlights the risk of severe influenza disease in infants younger than 6 months and the need for preventative measures to protect this vulnerable population.

The CDC reported that post-infection immunity paired with COVID-19 vaccination was very protective against the Delta variant.