With inputs from Dr Monica Vasudev

WHO recommends two new drugs for Covid-19

The World Health Organization (WHO) has added two new drugs in the treatment armamentarium of Covid-19, baricitinib and sotrovimab in its eighth update of WHO’s living guidelines on therapeutics and COVID-19,. Baricitinib, a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, is strongly recommended for patients with severe disease or those who are critically ill with Covid-19. It is recommended to be given with corticosteroids. The second drug, sotrovimab is a monoclonal antibody indicated for mild or moderate Covid-19 patients at high risk of hospitalization such as patients who are older, immunocompromised or with comorbid conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity and those who have not taken the vaccine...(Source: WHO, Jan. 14, 2022) 

Some US states are allowing asymptomatic and mildly infected healthcare workers to continue working 

The surge in Omicron cases has overwhelmed hospitals and resources in the US. Many hospitals are facing severe shortage of hospital staff as many of them are now infected with SARS-CoV-2. Taking this into consideration, states like California, Arizona, Rhode Island are permitting those hospital staff, infected with coronavirus, to continue working if they are either asymptomatic or have mild symptoms. Last month, in its guidance for healthcare workers, the CDC had said that “Healthcare workers with COVID-19 who are asymptomatic can return to work after 7 days with a negative test, and that isolation time can be cut further if there are staffing shortage”… (Source: Medscape, January 11, 2022)

Immune escape of Omicron variant

A Nature study has demonstrated considerable escape of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron to neutralization by antibodies. The sensitivity of the Omicron virus was tested against nine monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and antibodies present in 115 sera from either convalescent patients or those who had been vaccinated from the Orleans Cohort. Omicron was found to be completely or at least partially resistant to neutralization by all monoclonal antibodies tested in this study as well as vaccine induced antibodies. However, Omicron was susceptible to the booster dose of Pfizer vaccine, though with 6- to 23-fold lower against Omicron compared to against Delta… (Source: Nature, Dec. 23, 2021)

Omicron variant remains a “dangerous virus” particularly for the unvaccinated, says Dr Tedros

WHO Director General Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus has cautioned that the Omicron variant remains a “dangerous virus” even though it has so far caused milder disease than the delta variant. The unvaccinated persons are particularly at risk of severe disease from Omicron. He further said at a news briefing that more than 90 countries were yet to meet the target of vaccinating 40% of their populations and more than 85% of people in Africa were yet to receive a single dose …(Source: Medscape, Jan. 13, 2022)

Last ICU bed should be given to patient with best chances of survival, reveals survey

Results of a new survey conducted between 28th August and 4th September, 2020 reported in the Emergency Medicine Journal show that the respondents were in favor of giving the last available ICU bed available to the patient who had the highest odds of surviving Covid-19. Age of the patient did not influence the decision of the people surveyed. Younger respondents (under 30 years of age) were more likely to choose young and old patients, and were less likely to select patients aged 40–60 years old. Conversely, as the age of the patient declined, the preference for saving the patient showed a modest decline for respondents aged 30 to 49 years… (Source: Emergency Medicine Journal, Jan. 3, 2022)

Need to update Covid-19 vaccines, says WHO Technical Advisory Group

The Technical Advisory Group on COVID-19 Vaccine Composition (TAG-CO-VAC), a WHO Technical Group has said that “the composition of current COVID-19 vaccines may need to be updated, to ensure that COVID-19 vaccines continue to provide WHO-recommended levels of protection against infection and disease by VOCs, including Omicron and future variants”. According to the expert group, vaccines that not only protect against severe disease but also prevent infection are needed. The vaccine could be a multivalent vaccine or monovalent vaccine against the predominantly circulating variant… (Source: WHO, Jan. 11, 2022)

Myocardial inflammation in patients recovered from mild Covid-19

A recent study reports that some patients recently recovered from Covid-19 can have myocardial inflammation, which can present without any cardiac symptoms. In this single center study, eight out of the 47 patients enrolled, showed focal fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake on PET consistent with myocardial inflammation. They also had high levels of inflammatory blood markers including interleukin 6, interleukin 8, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP). These findings were seen to improve on follow up… (Source: JAMA Cardiology, Jan.12, 2022)