Mild Covid-19 protects from reinfection

A study published in Microbiology Spectrum has concluded that persons who have mild COVID-19 illnesses are protected from reinfection for up to 6 months after the infection. About 90% of the study participants had persistent spike, nucleocapsid, and virus-neutralizing antibodies that were stable for up to 6 months. None of the initially seropositive participants experienced a subsequent COVID-19 infection during follow-up when compared to 15 initially seronegative subjects who developed the infection… (Source: Microbiology Spectrum, September 1, 2021)

COVID-19 patients with new-onset myocarditis and pericarditis at higher risk of adverse outcomes

A new retrospective study of 718,365 COVID-19 patients published in the European Journal of Clinical Investigation suggests that COVID-19 patients with new-onset myocarditis and pericarditis are at greater risk of all-cause mortality, rehospitalization and acute myocardial infarction. Of the two, the association of major adverse events and new-onset cardiovascular sequelae was far stronger for patients with pericarditis. 

The all-cause mortality was 3.9% in patients with COVID-19 and new-onset myocarditis versus 15.2% in patients with COVID-19 and new-onset pericarditis. The odds of rehospitalisation (OR 1.90 vs OR 2.77) and acute myocardial infarction (OR 1.37 vs OR 2.22) were also higher among patients with new-onset pericarditis compared to new-onset myocarditis…. (Source: European Journal of Clinical Investigation, published Sept. 13, 2021)

Preterm delivery and hypertension are the most common complications in pregnant women with Covid-19

An ICMR study has shown preterm delivery (16.3%) and hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (10%) to be the most common complications in pregnant women with Covid-19. In addition, Almost 4% women were hospitalized in the ICU; of which, 96% were  due to COVID-19 related complications. The study analysed data of 4203 pregnant women from the PregCovid registry during the first wave of the pandemic in various districts of Maharashtra, from March 2020 to January 2021. The overall case fatality rate in pregnant and post-partum women with COVID-19 was less than one percent… (Source: Indian Journal of Medical Research, DOI: 10.4103/ijmr.ijmr_1938_21)

NIH Treatment Guidelines Panel recommends bamlanivimab + etesevimab for non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients 

With bamlanivimab + etesevimab now available in the US, the NIH COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines Panel has updated its recommendations and advises use of  anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibodies (mAb) regimens to treat nonhospitalized patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 who are at high risk of clinical progression. The mAb regimens include  Bamlanivimab 700 mg + etesevimab 1400 mg IV infusion or Casirivimab 600 mg + imdevimab 600 mg IV infusion / subcutaneous injection or Sotrovimab 500 mg IV infusion… (Source: NIH Covid-19 treatment guidelines, Sept. 15, 2021)

Memory T cell immunity in children and adults with mild COVID-19

A preprint study has suggested that children and adults with mild COVID-19 symptoms develop memory T cell immunity to SARS-CoV-2, which could protect against re-infection. Results showed that S-SARS-CoV-2-specific IFN-ɣ T cell responses in most infected children (83%) and all adults (100%) that were absent in unexposed controls. Frequencies of SARS-CoV-2-specific T cells were higher in infected adults, especially in those with moderate symptoms, compared to infected children. The S-SARS-CoV-2 IFN-ɣ T cell response correlated with S1-SARS-CoV-2-specific serum IgM, IgG, and IgA antibody concentrations. Predominantly, effector memory CD4+ T cells of a Th1 phenotype were activated upon exposure to SARS-CoV-2 antigens, which persisted for 4-8 weeks after symptom onset... (Source: medRxiv, posted September 15, 2021)