Respiratory Infections

March 24 is World Tuberculosis Day. Here’s a brief history of the second deadliest infectious disease, and how it affects the world today.

On this day of commemoration, The Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute has multiple TB therapies and a prophylactic vaccine in development, and its Chief Medical Officer Michael W. Dunne, MD, remains optimistic long-term about the state of clinical care, especially in areas of dire need such as low-and-middle-income countries.

Exposure to a common seasonal coronavirus stimulates a memory T cell response that protects children against COVID-19. However, this immune response peaks at age 6.

After 28 days, hydrocortisone reduced the risk of mortality by 5.7% in severe community-acquired pneumonia patients.

Despite failing to meet primary trial endpoints, molnupiravir reduced the length of COVID-19 infection by 4.2 days in vaccinated patients.

Former NBA star Magic Johnson has partnered with GSK to educate the public about this virus, specifically in seniors and those at high-risk for contracting a severe form of RSV.

These investigators concluded Omicron XBB.1.5 the most successful COVID-19 variant of its lineage.

If FDA approved, this 5-in-1 investigational candidate could provide the broadest meningococcal serogroup coverage.

COVID-19 patients had a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular disease and death in both the short- and long-term.

Nasal administration of the fully human anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody Foralumab modulated T cell inflammatory responses in COVID-19.

The seasonal respiratory virus could be the challenging, lingering colds people are suffering with this year.

The TRUNCATE-TB trial demonstrated 8 week regimen with bedaquiline and linezolid for rifampin-susceptible TB noninferior to standard 6-month treatment.

In the 12-month period following COVID-19 infection, long COVID patients had an excess death rate of 16.4 per 1000 individuals.

Periods of COVID-19 reinfection correlated with the circulation of new variants, as well as with time since first infection.

Pfizer indicates their RSV vaccine candidate, Abrysvo (RSVpreF), to prevent acute respiratory disease and lower respiratory tract disease caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in adults 60 years and older by active immunization.

Two people developed Guillain-Barre syndrome among a total of 19,942 vaccinated participants in the clinical studies submitted for the company’s biologicals license application (BLA).

The Lucira COVID-19 & Flu Test is a single-use at-home test kit that provides results from self-collected nasal swab samples in roughly 30 minutes.

Tina Tan, MD; Wendy Wright, DNP, ANP-BC, FNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN, FNAP; Priya Nori, MD; Jacinda Abdul-Mutakabbir, PharmD; and Kevin Michael Reiter, MD, PA, provide key takeaways from the discussion on the treatment of respiratory viral infections.

Experts address patient hesitancy around both COVID-19 and influenza vaccines.

The federal agency set a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) action date of August 2023.

Jacinda Abdul-Mutakabbir, PharmD, comments on building trust with community members and educating people about respiratory infection vaccines.

Experts share their approach to encouraging patients with symptoms of respiratory infections to get tested and vaccinated, and how that helps to control the spread of sickness.

Wendy Wright, DNP, ANP-BC, FNP-BC, FAANP, FAAN, FNAP, and Jacinda Abdul-Mutakabbir, PharmD, discuss what both the clinician and the patient need to know about testing for respiratory viruses.

Priya Nori, MD, comments on the use of at-home tests for respiratory disease, including for COVID-19 and influenza.

The candidate, Ad26.RSV.preF–RSV preF protein vaccine, was 80.0% effective against severe disease and 69.8% effective against any RSV acute respiratory infection.

Why have “long COVID” cases become less frequent and less severe over time?

Jacinda Abdul-Mutakabbir, PharmD, examines the mechanisms of action of the different respiratory viral infection tests.

Experts review testing recommendations for respiratory viral infections and the types of testing options available.

Spherical hydrogel inhalation for enhanced lung defense (SHIELD) is an investigational inhalable that coats the airways and serves as a physical barrier against COVID-19.

Infectious disease outbreaks will continue to increase and trying to find strategies to ensure providers are cared for to prevent burnout and shortage staffing is essential if another pandemic arises.