Nirmatrelvir-ritonivir, COVID-19, and possible adverse cutaneous reactions.

Nirmatrelvir-ritonivir (Paxlovid) recently received emergency use authorization for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Literature has linked numerous cutaneous adverse effects to nirmatrelvir and ritonavir, the copackaged tablets within Paxlovid. A review and comparison of these adverse effects to the common cutaneous manifestations of COVID-19 is provided. Numerous drug-to-drug interactions exist between nirmatrelvir-ritonivir and commonly-used medications within dermatology.

Teledermatology May Benefit Marginalized Populations: National and Institutional Trends during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

INTRODUCTION: Limited data exist regarding demographic-specific teledermatology (TD) utilization during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This study aimed to determine TD utilization trends during the pandemic. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study for national and institutional populations was conducted. Patient encounters in the American Academy of Dermatology's DataDerm registry (DataDerm) were analyzed from 1 April 2020 through 30 June 2021. All dermatological patients seen by Duke University Health Systems (DUHS) were analyzed from 1 March 2020 through 30 April 2021. In-person clinic visits versus TD encounters (national and institutional) and no-show rates (institutional only) were collected for visit type (i.e., TD versus in-person), sex, race, age/generation, and in- versus out-of-state location (national only). TD utilization is defined as the cohort of interest using TD (e.g., females, whites) within a demographic group (i.e., sex, race) as a percentage of total TD users. This was compared with in-person utilization during the identical timeframe. RESULTS: For US national data, 13,964,816 encounters were analyzed. Sex, race, age, and location each had a significant association with TD utilization (adjusted p < 0.001). For institutional data, 54,400 encounters were analyzed. Sex, race, and age had a significant association with TD utilization (adjusted p < 0.001). Both datasets revealed majority female populations for telehealth visits (DataDerm 66.0%; DUHS 61.7%). Non-white populations accounted for a higher percentage of TD utilizers (DataDerm 15.0%; DUHS 37.3%) when compared with in-person utilizers (DataDerm 11.7%; DUHS 22.3%). Younger patients utilized TD (DataDerm 63.6%; DUHS 62.6%) more than in-person services (DataDerm 26.3%; DUHS 43.8%). Institutional no-show rates between telehealth and in-person visits were lower for Black patients (11.8% versus 19.2%), other non-white races (10.6% versus 13.6%), and younger ages/generations (9.8% versus 12.8%), respectively. TD utilization decreased over time nationally as a percentage of total visits (2.9% versus 0.3%) in 2020 versus 2021, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: During the COVID-19 pandemic, certain populations (females, younger patients, non-white races) showed higher TD utilization. Understanding TD utilization trends is critical in defining the role of virtual care for improving universal care access, optimizing resources, and informing future healthcare models for all patient populations.

Teledermatology application use in the COVID-19 era.

Owing to the COVID-19 outbreak, the use of telemedicine applications has increased throughout the United States. Using an algorithm to analyze mobile application rankings, we were able to examine how applications with telemedicine services have increased in prevalence and rank pre- and post- COVID-19. Telemedicine apps saw an increase of 210.92 ranked positions on average. Within US telehealth, skin conditions have become the fifth most common diagnosis. Widespread use of teledermatology has been well-accepted. Dermatologists and patients report high satisfaction using teledermatology during COVID-19 and intend to continue using these services in the future. COVID-19 has assisted in reducing physician concerns previously preventing some dermatologists from utilizing teledermatology in their services. Additionally, the geographical and socioeconomic barriers preventing some patients from receiving dermatologic care have been minimized through the use of teledermatology. Addressing these obstacles for dermatologic care improves healthcare equity.

Orchestrating a virtual conference amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

The current Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has impacted individuals and groups all across the globe as countries and cities face widespread lockdown to limit transmission of the virus. Many have adapted quickly, utilizing virtual platforms for interviews, employment, and academic/social events. Academic conferences, such as the annual Cochrane Skin Conference, faced similar challenges as large gatherings have been banned. The in-person conference was cancelled several days prior to its hosting at the University of Colorado, leading conference organizers to employ a virtual platform to continue the conference as scheduled. In this letter, logistics, troubleshooting, and conversion of an NIH-funded conference from an in-person to a successful virtual conference are discussed. We hope this letter may serve as a guide for future hosting of academic conferences, and to those dedicated to collaboration and the sharing of information during such unprecedented times.

Hand hygiene during COVID-19: Recommendations from the American Contact Dermatitis Society.

The recent COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in increased hand hygiene and hand cleansing awareness. To prevent virus transmission, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends frequent hand washing with soap and water. Hand hygiene products are available in a variety of forms, and while each of these formulations may be effective against COVID-19, they may also alter skin barrier integrity and function. As health care workers and the general population focus on stringent hand hygiene, the American Contact Dermatitis Society anticipates an increase in both irritant contact and allergic contact hand dermatitis. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers with moisturizers have the least sensitizing and irritancy potential when compared to soaps and synthetic detergents. This article provides an overview of the most frequently used hand hygiene products and their associations with contact dermatitis as well as recommendations from the American Contact Dermatitis Society on how to treat and prevent further dermatitis.