COVID-19

Authors collected ~250 samples in a COVID-19 hospital in Wuhan, China, either swapping surfaces or collecting air from AC outlets. Virus were found almost everywhere, from the floor in the staffs dressing room to computer mice and trash cans.

Diagnostic testing to identify persons infected (or previously infected) with SARS-CoV-2 is an important component to control this pandemic. Real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction based assays are the reference standard for COVID-19 diagnostics. However, point-of-care technologies and serologic immunoassays are rapidly emerging. Important gaps remain in screening asymptomatic persons in the incubation phase, as well as in the accurate determination of live viral shedding during convalescence to inform decisions to end isolation.

Between March 22 and April 4, 2020, a total of 215 pregnant women delivered infants at the New York– Presbyterian Allen Hospital in New York City. All were were screened on admission for symptoms of Covid-19. Of 210 women who did not have symptoms of Covid-19; 29 (13.7%) were positive for SARS-CoV-2. Fever developed in 3 (10%) of the 29 before postpartum discharge (median length of stay, 2 days).

In this study, the authors examined the liver injury patterns and implication of non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases (NAFLD) on clinical outcomes in Chinese with COVID-19.

In this opinion piece, the authors express concern that rushing to publish positive results on imaging in COVID-19 carries a risk of biased science and distribution of premature conclusion on the ability and role of imaging during this pandemic.

According to this small study, paediatric patients with COIVD-19 tend to have milder symptoms as well as fewer and different radiologic findings compared to adult patients. On CT for example, bronchial wall thickening was more frequently seen in children with COIVD-19 than in adults.

Italian Children's Hospitals report > 80% reduction of ER visits in March 2020 compared with earlier years with an increase in deaths due to conditions unrelated to COVID-19 because of delayed diagnosis and therapy

Analysis of lymphocyte subsets as predicor for outcome. Including a webbased analytical tool

Meta-Analysis of studies on gastra-intestinal symptoms in patients with COVID-19. GI symptoms are reported in up to a fith of patients tested positive for COVID-19, and in a substantial portion of patients GI symptomes were not acompanied by respiratory findings.

Systematic analysis of 301 planned and ongoing trials on Covid-19 listed in clinicaltrials.gov. Curent as of 4.4.2020. Trials are mostly interventional phase III trials with a large variety in recruitment targets. Most trials were added in the last week.