ABSTRACT
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: We reviewed the current data on infections associated with rituximab use published over the last 5 years. RECENT FINDINGS: New literature was available on rates of serious infections, Hepatitis B reactivation and screening, and infection with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2. Rates of infection varied by study and population, however, higher risk of infection in patients with underlying rheumatologic diseases was seen in those who required a therapy switch, had a smoking history, and those undergoing retreatment who had a serious infection with their first course of therapy. With regards to HBV, the proportion of patients screened continues to be inadequate. Despite the upfront cost, HBV screening and prophylaxis were found to be cost effective. There is still limited data regarding COVID-19 severity in the setting of rituximab, however, rituximab, especially in combination with steroids, may lead to more severe disease and higher mortality.
Subject(s)
Antirheumatic Agents/therapeutic use , COVID-19/epidemiology , Hepatitis B/epidemiology , Opportunistic Infections/epidemiology , Rituximab/therapeutic use , Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use , Hepatitis B/diagnosis , Hepatitis B/drug therapy , Hepatitis B/prevention & control , Humans , Immunocompromised Host , Latent Infection/diagnosis , Latent Infection/drug therapy , Latent Infection/epidemiology , Latent Infection/prevention & control , Mass Screening , Risk , SARS-CoV-2 , Virus Diseases/epidemiologySubject(s)
Coinfection/diagnosis , Health Services Accessibility , Latent Infection/diagnosis , Mass Screening , Tuberculosis/diagnosis , Coinfection/economics , Coinfection/epidemiology , Coinfection/therapy , Health Care Costs , Health Services Accessibility/economics , Health Services Accessibility/ethics , Humans , Incidence , Latent Infection/economics , Latent Infection/epidemiology , Latent Infection/therapy , Mass Screening/economics , Mass Screening/ethics , Predictive Value of Tests , Prognosis , Socioeconomic Factors , Tuberculosis/economics , Tuberculosis/epidemiology , Tuberculosis/therapyABSTRACT
Roles of environmental factors in transmission of COVID-19 have been highlighted. In this study, we sampled the high-touch environmental surfaces in the quarantine room, aiming to detect the distribution of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on the environmental surfaces during the incubation period of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Fifteen sites were sampled from the quarantine room, distributing in the functional areas such as bedroom, bathroom and living room. All environmental surface samples were collected with sterile polyester-tipped applicator pre-moistened in viral transport medium and tested for SARS-CoV-2. Overall, 34.1% of samples were detected positively for SARS-CoV-2. The positive rates of Patient A, B and C, were 46.2%, 0% and 61.5%, respectively. SARS-CoV-2 was detected positively in bedroom and bathroom, with the positive rate of 50.0% and 46.7%, respectively. In contrast, living room had no positive sample detected. Environmental contamination of SARS-CoV-2 distributes widely during the incubation period of COVID-19, and the positive rates of SARS-CoV-2 on environmental surfaces are relatively high in bathroom and bedroom.