ABSTRACT
An effective vaccine is considered the best method to achieve herd immunity. As of February 2021, 12 vaccines were in late-stage clinical trials worldwide, with many more in development. Of those, 8 have received emergency use authorization from at least one country's governing body. These vaccines use various platforms to deliver the vaccines, each with pros and cons. Published data show these vaccines are effective in preventing the severe symptoms associated with COVID-19 in adults with few side effects, but challenges remain with storage and delivery and treating virus variants.
ABSTRACT
In COVID-19, respiratory infection with SARS-CoV-2 plus another virus (viral co-infection) or with SARS-CoV-2 plus a bacterial pathogen (combined viral and bacterial pneumonia) has been described. Secondary bacterial pneumonia can follow the initial phase of viral respiratory infection or occur during the recovery phase. No obvious pattern or guidelines exist for viral co-infection, combined viral and bacterial pneumonia, or secondary bacterial pneumonia in COVID-19. Based on existing clinical data and experience with similar viruses such as influenza and SARS-CoV, the management approach in COVID-19 should, ideally, take into consideration the overall presentation and the trajectory of illness.
Subject(s)
Anti-Bacterial Agents/administration & dosage , Coinfection , Coronavirus Infections , Pandemics , Patient Care Management/methods , Pneumonia, Bacterial , Pneumonia, Viral , Virus Diseases , Bacteria/classification , Bacteria/isolation & purification , COVID-19 , COVID-19 Testing , Clinical Laboratory Techniques/methods , Coinfection/diagnosis , Coinfection/etiology , Coinfection/therapy , Community-Acquired Infections/epidemiology , Community-Acquired Infections/therapy , Coronavirus Infections/diagnosis , Coronavirus Infections/epidemiology , Coronavirus Infections/therapy , Cross Infection/epidemiology , Cross Infection/therapy , Diagnosis, Differential , Humans , Pneumonia, Bacterial/epidemiology , Pneumonia, Bacterial/etiology , Pneumonia, Bacterial/therapy , Pneumonia, Viral/diagnosis , Pneumonia, Viral/epidemiology , Pneumonia, Viral/therapy , Virus Diseases/epidemiology , Virus Diseases/therapyABSTRACT
COVID-19 management practices devised for the medical intensive care unit are centered on 2 main goals: ensuring caregiver safety and providing the highest quality patient care through adherence to evidence-based best practices. Rapid, sweeping changes for successful management are based on creating an educational platform to introduce and then further cement these concepts through a unified approach to clinical care. Creating a culture change in a short period of time requires overcoming a host of challenges;however, the result is a more unified and focused approach.
ABSTRACT
Most antiviral or immunomodulatory therapies investigated for use in patients with COVID-19 have failed to show any mortality benefit. Similar to the previous pandemics caused by respiratory viruses, the role and benefit of corticosteroids has been under debate in COVID-19-related pulmonary disease. In this consult, we discuss the evidence regarding the efficacy of corticosteroid use in hospitalized patients with COVID-19, including data from the first randomized controlled trial on this subject.